Vector-focused Approaches to Curb Malaria Transmission in the Brazilian Amazon: An Overview of Current and Future Challenges and Strategies

Abstract

In Brazil, malaria transmission is mostly confined to the Amazon, where substantial progress has been achieved towards disease control in the past decade. Vector control has been historically considered a fundamental part of the main malaria control programs implemented in Brazil. However, the conventional vector-control tools have been insufficient to eliminate local vector populations due to the complexity of the Amazonian rainforest environment and ecological features of malaria vector species in the Amazon, especially Anopheles darlingi. Malaria elimination in Brazil and worldwide eradication will require a combination of conventional and new approaches that takes into account the regional specificities of vector populations and malaria transmission dynamics. Here we present an overview on both conventional and novel promising vector-focused tools to curb malaria transmission in the Brazilian Amazon. If well designed and employed, these new vector-based approaches may improve the implementation of malaria-control programs, particularly in remote or difficult-to-access areas and in regions where existing interventions have been unable to eliminate disease transmission. However, much effort still has to be put on research expanding the knowledge of neotropical malaria vectors to set the steppingstones for the development of such innovative tools.

Culturable bacteria associated with Anopheles darlingi and their paratransgenesis potential

“…Because An. darlingi is anthropophilic, opportunistic, exophagic, and exophilic, long-lasting insecticidal nets and indoor residual spraying are not effective alone and novel vector control methods are needed to improve the control of malaria transmission by these mosquitoes [16][17][18]. For example, strategies deploying genetically-modified mosquitoes [19,20] and their endosymbionts (paratransgenesis) [21][22][23][24] have been proposed as vector-based tools for malaria control.…”

Estrategias de gestión en salud pública para la eliminación de la malaria en América Latina en 2010-2021: una revisión sistemática exploratoria

“…El propósito de la presente revisión es ahondar en la búsqueda de evidencia de estrategias sobre las acciones de gestión pública para la reducción, mitigación o eliminación de la malaria en América Latina; procurando ampliar la comprensión de la malaria como un problema de salud pública. Los hallazgos permiten entrever que se requiere abordar esta enfermedad no cómo una patología aislada, sino cómo un problema de salud que requiere de trabajo interdisciplinario y de la comprensión integral de las problemáticas asociadas a los desafíos actuales frente a los planes de erradicación (23) .…”