| modelling the relative abundance of the primary african vectors of malaria before and after the implementation of indoor, insecticide-based vector control. | malaria remains a heavy burden across sub-saharan africa where transmission is maintained by some of the world's most efficient vectors. indoor insecticide-based control measures have significantly reduced transmission, yet elimination remains a distant target. knowing the relative abundance of the primary vector species can provide transmission models with much needed information to guide targeted control measures. moreover, understanding how existing interventions are impacting on these relati ... | 2016 | 26945997 |
| characteristics of asymptomatic plasmodium spp. parasitaemia in kwahu-mpraeso, a malaria endemic mountainous district in ghana, west africa. | malaria control efforts in ghana have reduced the countrywide average malaria prevalence from 71% in 2000 to about 51% in 2012; however, its main focus is on symptomatic malaria. if further progress is to be made, parasite reservoirs in asymptomatic carriers need to be moved into focus. this study profiles asymptomatic plasmodium spp. parasitaemia amongst residents of mountainous kwahu-mpraeso in the eastern region of ghana. | 2016 | 26801407 |
| does extreme asymmetric dominance promote hybridization between anopheles coluzzii and anopheles gambiae s.s. in seasonal malaria mosquito communities of west africa? | anopheles gambiae s.s. and an. coluzzii are two of the most important malaria vector species in sub-saharan africa. these recently-diverged sibling species do not exhibit intrinsic post-zygotic barriers to reproduction and are thought to be separated by strong assortative mating combined with selection against hybrids. at present, little is known about the ecological conditions that determine hybridization and introgression between these cryptic taxa. | 2015 | 26559354 |
| rise of multiple insecticide resistance in anopheles funestus in malawi: a major concern for malaria vector control. | deciphering the dynamics and evolution of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors is crucial for successful vector control. this study reports an increase of resistance intensity and a rise of multiple insecticide resistance in anopheles funestus in malawi leading to reduced bed net efficacy. | 2015 | 26370361 |
| mosquito attraction: crucial role of carbon dioxide in formulation of a five-component blend of human-derived volatiles. | behavioral responses of the malaria mosquito anopheles coluzzii (an. gambiae sensu stricto molecular 'm form') to an expanded blend of human-derived volatiles were assessed in a dual-port olfactometer. a previously documented attractive three-component blend consisting of nh3, (s)-lactic acid, and tetradecanoic acid served as the basis for expansion. adding 4.5% co2 to the basic blend significantly enhanced its attractiveness. expansion of the blend with four human-derived c4-volatiles was then ... | 2015 | 26026743 |
| when a discriminating dose assay is not enough: measuring the intensity of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors. | guidelines from the world health organization for monitoring insecticide resistance in disease vectors recommend exposing insects to a predetermined discriminating dose of insecticide and recording the percentage mortality in the population. this standardized methodology has been widely adopted for malaria vectors and has provided valuable data on the spread and prevalence of resistance. however, understanding the potential impact of this resistance on malaria control requires a more quantitativ ... | 2015 | 25985896 |
| field evaluation of a push-pull system to reduce malaria transmission. | malaria continues to place a disease burden on millions of people throughout the tropics, especially in sub-saharan africa. although efforts to control mosquito populations and reduce human-vector contact, such as long-lasting insecticidal nets and indoor residual spraying, have led to significant decreases in malaria incidence, further progress is now threatened by the widespread development of physiological and behavioural insecticide-resistance as well as changes in the composition of vector ... | 2015 | 25923114 |
| a cohort study of the effectiveness of insecticide-treated bed nets to prevent malaria in an area of moderate pyrethroid resistance, malawi. | insecticide-treated bed nets (itns) are the cornerstone of malaria control in sub-saharan africa but their effectiveness may be compromised by the spread of pyrethroid resistance among malaria vectors. the objective of this investigation was to assess the effectiveness of itns to prevent malaria in an area of malawi with moderate pyrethroid resistance. | 2015 | 25627987 |
| adaptive introgression in an african malaria mosquito coincident with the increased usage of insecticide-treated bed nets. | animal species adapt to changes in their environment, including man-made changes such as the introduction of insecticides, through selection for advantageous genes already present in populations or newly arisen through mutation. a possible alternative mechanism is the acquisition of adaptive genes from related species via a process known as adaptive introgression. differing levels of insecticide resistance between two african malaria vectors, anopheles coluzzii and anopheles gambiae, have been a ... | 2015 | 25561525 |
| micro-encapsulated pirimiphos-methyl shows high insecticidal efficacy and long residual activity against pyrethroid-resistant malaria vectors in central côte d'ivoire. | the wide-scale implementation of insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying (irs) has contributed to a considerable decrease of malaria morbidity and mortality in sub-saharan africa over the last decade. due to increasing resistance in anopheles gambiae sensu lato mosquitoes to dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (ddt) and pyrethroids, alternative insecticide formulations for irs with long-lasting residual activity are required to sustain the gains obtained in most malaria-endemic countr ... | 2014 | 25152326 |
| development and optimization of the suna trap as a tool for mosquito monitoring and control. | monitoring of malaria vector populations provides information about disease transmission risk, as well as measures of the effectiveness of vector control. the suna trap is introduced and evaluated with regard to its potential as a new, standardized, odour-baited tool for mosquito monitoring and control. | 2014 | 24998771 |
| behavioural divergence of sympatric anopheles funestus populations in burkina faso. | in burkina faso, two chromosomal forms of the malaria vector anopheles funestus, folonzo and kiribina, are distinguished by contrasting frequencies of shared polymorphic chromosomal inversions. sympatric and synchronous populations of folonzo and kiribina mate assortatively, as indicated by a significant deficit of heterokaryotypes, and genetic associations among inversions on independently segregating chromosome arms. the present study aimed to assess, by intensive longitudinal sampling, whethe ... | 2014 | 24559382 |
| differential effects of inbreeding and selection on male reproductive phenotype associated with the colonization and laboratory maintenance of anopheles gambiae. | effective mating between laboratory-reared males and wild females is paramount to the success of vector control strategies aiming to decrease disease transmission via the release of sterile or genetically modified male mosquitoes. however mosquito colonization and laboratory maintenance have the potential to negatively affect male genotypic and phenotypic quality through inbreeding and selection, which in turn can decrease male mating competitiveness in the field. to date, very little is known a ... | 2014 | 24418094 |
| dose and developmental responses of anopheles merus larvae to salinity. | saltwater tolerance is a trait that carries both ecological and epidemiological significance for anopheles mosquitoes that transmit human malaria, as it plays a key role in determining their habitat use and ecological distribution, and thus their local contribution to malaria transmission. here, we lay the groundwork for genetic dissection of this trait by quantifying saltwater tolerance in three closely related cryptic species and malaria vectors from the afrotropical anopheles gambiae complex ... | 0 | 23966587 |
| blood meal sources and entomological inoculation rates of anophelines along a highland altitudinal transect in south-central ethiopia. | the role of anophelines in transmitting malaria depends on their distribution, preference to feed on humans and also their susceptibility to plasmodium gametocytes, all of which are affected by local environmental conditions. blood meal source and entomological inoculation rate of anophelines was assessed along a highland altitudinal transect in south- central ethiopia. | 2013 | 23433348 |
| malaria, helminths, co-infection and anaemia in a cohort of children from mutengene, south western cameroon. | malaria and helminthiases frequently co-infect the same individuals in endemic zones. plasmodium falciparum and helminth infections have long been recognized as major contributors to anaemia in endemic countries. several studies have explored the influence of helminth infections on the course of malaria in humans but how these parasites interact within co-infected individuals remains controversial. | 2016 | 26852392 |
| a review of new challenges and prospects for malaria elimination in mutare and mutasa districts, zimbabwe. | this review outlines and discusses the new challenges in malaria control and prospects for its elimination in mutare and mutasa districts, zimbabwe. the burden of malaria has declined significantly over the past 5 years in most regions in zimbabwe, including mutare and mutasa districts. the nationwide malaria reduction has been primarily linked to scaled-up vector control interventions and early diagnosis and treatment with effective anti-malarial medicines. the successes recorded have prompted ... | 2016 | 27411705 |
| specific antibodies to anopheles gsg6-p1 salivary peptide to assess early childhood exposure to malaria vector bites. | the estimates of risk of malaria in early childhood are imprecise given the current entomologic and parasitological tools. thus, the utility of anti-anopheles salivary gsg6-p1 peptide antibody responses in measuring exposure to anopheles bites during early infancy has been assessed. | 2015 | 26198354 |
| sibling species of the anopheles funestus group, and their infection with malaria and lymphatic filarial parasites, in archived and newly collected specimens from northeastern tanzania. | studies on the east african coast have shown a recent dramatic decline in malaria vector density and change in composition of sibling species of the anopheles gambiae complex, paralleled by a major decline in malaria incidence. in order to better understand the ongoing changes in vector-parasite dynamics in the area, and to allow for appropriate adjustment of control activities, the present study examined the composition, and malaria and lymphatic filarial infection, of sibling species of the an ... | 2015 | 25885457 |
| underestimation of foraging behaviour by standard field methods in malaria vector mosquitoes in southern africa. | defining the anopheline mosquito vectors and their foraging behaviour in malaria endemic areas is crucial for disease control and surveillance. the standard protocol for molecular identification of host blood meals in mosquitoes is to morphologically identify fed mosquitoes and then perform polymerase chain reaction (pcr), precipitin tests, or elisa assays. the purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which the feeding rate and human blood indices (hbis) of malaria vectors were under ... | 2015 | 25927429 |
| the impact of livestock on the abundance, resting behaviour and sporozoite rate of malaria vectors in southern tanzania. | increases in the coverage of long-lasting insecticidal nets (llins) have significantly reduced the abundance of anopheles gambiae sensu stricto in several african settings, leaving its more zoophagic sibling species anopheles arabiensis as the primary vector. this study investigated the impact of livestock ownership at the household level on the ecology and malaria infection rate of vectors in an area of tanzania where an. arabiensis accounts for most malaria transmission. | 2015 | 25604150 |
| increasing role of anopheles funestus and anopheles arabiensis in malaria transmission in the kilombero valley, tanzania. | in order to sustain the gains achieved by current malaria control strategies, robust surveillance systems that monitor dynamics of vectors and their roles in malaria transmission over time are essential. this longitudinal study demonstrates the trends in malaria vector dynamics and their relative contribution to malaria transmission in hyperendemic transmission settings in tanzania. | 2014 | 25150840 |
| implications of low-density microfilariae carriers in anopheles transmission areas: molecular forms of anopheles gambiae and anopheles funestus populations in perspective. | previous studies have shown a general reduction in annual transmission potential (atp) of anopheles species after mass drug administration (mda) in lymphatic filariasis endemic communities. whereas results obtained from a monitoring programme after three years of mda revealed a decrease in atp of anopheles funestus this was not the same for an. gambiae s.s. in ghana. in this study, the ability of these vectors in transmitting wuchereria bancrofti in nine lymphatic filariasis endemic communities ... | 2014 | 24690378 |
| change in composition of the anopheles gambiae complex and its possible implications for the transmission of malaria and lymphatic filariasis in north-eastern tanzania. | a dramatic decline in the incidence of malaria due to plasmodium falciparum infection in coastal east africa has recently been reported to be paralleled (or even preceded) by an equally dramatic decline in malaria vector density, despite absence of organized vector control. as part of investigations into possible causes for the change in vector population density, the present study analysed the anopheles gambiae s.l. sibling species composition in north-eastern tanzania. | 2012 | 22681999 |
| contrasting plasmodium infection rates and insecticide susceptibility profiles between the sympatric sibling species anopheles parensis and anopheles funestus s.s: a potential challenge for malaria vector control in uganda. | although the an. funestus group conceals one of the major malaria vectors in africa, little is known about the dynamics of members of this group across the continent. here, we investigated the species composition, infection rate and susceptibility to insecticides of this species group in uganda. | 2014 | 24533773 |
| entomological surveillance of behavioural resilience and resistance in residual malaria vector populations. | the most potent malaria vectors rely heavily upon human blood so they are vulnerable to attack with insecticide-treated nets (itns) and indoor residual spraying (irs) within houses. mosquito taxa that can avoid feeding or resting indoors, or by obtaining blood from animals, mediate a growing proportion of the dwindling transmission that persists as itns and irs are scaled up. | 2013 | 23577656 |
| shifts in malaria vector species composition and transmission dynamics along the kenyan coast over the past 20 years. | over the past 20 years, numerous studies have investigated the ecology and behaviour of malaria vectors and plasmodium falciparum malaria transmission on the coast of kenya. substantial progress has been made to control vector populations and reduce high malaria prevalence and severe disease. the goal of this paper was to examine trends over the past 20 years in anopheles species composition, density, blood-feeding behaviour, and p. falciparum sporozoite transmission along the coast of kenya. | 2013 | 23297732 |
| population genetic structure of the major malaria vector anopheles funestus s.s. and allied species in southern africa. | anopheles funestus s.s., one of the major malaria vectors in sub-saharan africa, belongs to a group of eleven african species that are morphologically similar at the adult stage, most of which do not transmit malaria. the population structure of an. funestus based on mitochondrial dna data led to the description of two cryptic subdivisions, clade i widespread throughout africa and clade ii known only from mozambique and madagascar. in this study, we investigated five common members of the anophe ... | 2012 | 23216696 |
| rickettsia felis, an emerging flea-borne rickettsiosis. | rickettsia felis is an emerging insect-borne rickettsial pathogen and the causative agent of flea-borne spotted fever. first described as a human pathogen from the usa in 1991, r. felis is now identified throughout the world and considered a common cause of fever in africa. the cosmopolitan distribution of this pathogen is credited to the equally widespread occurrence of cat fleas (ctenocephalides felis), the primary vector and reservoir of r. felis. although r. felis is a relatively new member ... | 2016 | 27340613 |
| rickettsia species in african anopheles mosquitoes. | there is higher rate of r. felis infection among febrile patients than in healthy people in sub-saharan africa, predominantly in the rainy season. mosquitoes possess a high vectorial capacity and, because of their abundance and aggressiveness, likely play a role in rickettsial epidemiology. | 2012 | 23118963 |
| the cpcfc cuticular protein family: anatomical and cuticular locations in anopheles gambiae and distribution throughout pancrustacea. | arthropod cuticles have, in addition to chitin, many structural proteins belonging to diverse families. information is sparse about how these different cuticular proteins contribute to the cuticle. most cuticular proteins lack cysteine with the exception of two families (cpap1 and cpap3), recently described, and the one other that we now report on that has a motif of 16 amino acids first identified in a protein, bc-ncp1, from the cuticle of nymphs of the cockroach, blaberus craniifer (jensen et ... | 2015 | 26164413 |
| full-genome characterisation of orungo, lebombo and changuinola viruses provides evidence for co-evolution of orbiviruses with their arthropod vectors. | the complete genomes of orungo virus (oruv), lebombo virus (lebv) and changuinola virus (cglv) were sequenced, confirming that they each encode 11 distinct proteins (vp1-vp7 and ns1-ns4). phylogenetic analyses of cell-attachment protein 'outer-capsid protein 1' (oc1), show that orbiviruses fall into three large groups, identified as: vp2(oc1), in which oc1 is the 2nd largest protein, including the culicoides transmitted orbiviruses; vp3(oc1), which includes the mosquito transmitted orbiviruses; ... | 2014 | 24475112 |
| sialome of a generalist lepidopteran herbivore: identification of transcripts and proteins from helicoverpa armigera labial salivary glands. | although the importance of insect saliva in insect-host plant interactions has been acknowledged, there is very limited information on the nature and complexity of the salivary proteome in lepidopteran herbivores. we inspected the labial salivary transcriptome and proteome of helicoverpa armigera, an important polyphagous pest species. to identify the majority of the salivary proteins we have randomly sequenced 19,389 expressed sequence tags (ests) from a normalized cdna library of salivary glan ... | 2011 | 22046331 |
| large-scale identification of odorant-binding proteins and chemosensory proteins from expressed sequence tags in insects. | insect odorant binding proteins (obps) and chemosensory proteins (csps) play an important role in chemical communication of insects. gene discovery of these proteins is a time-consuming task. in recent years, expressed sequence tags (ests) of many insect species have accumulated, thus providing a useful resource for gene discovery. | 2009 | 20034407 |
| revealing pancrustacean relationships: phylogenetic analysis of ribosomal protein genes places collembola (springtails) in a monophyletic hexapoda and reinforces the discrepancy between mitochondrial and nuclear dna markers. | in recent years, several new hypotheses on phylogenetic relations among arthropods have been proposed on the basis of dna sequences. one of the challenged hypotheses is the monophyly of hexapods. this discussion originated from analyses based on mitochondrial dna datasets that, due to an unusual positioning of collembola, suggested that the hexapod body plan evolved at least twice. here, we re-evaluate the position of collembola using ribosomal protein gene sequences. | 2008 | 18366624 |
| an insight into the sialotranscriptome of the non-blood feeding toxorhynchites amboinensis mosquito. | all adult mosquitoes take sugar meals, and most adult females also take blood meals to develop eggs. salivary glands (sg) of males are thus much smaller and do not contain many of the antihemostatic and antiinflammatory compounds found in females. in the past 5 years, transcriptome analyses have identified nearly 70 different genes expressed in adult female sg. for most of these, no function can be assigned in either blood or sugar feeding. exceptionally, toxorhynchites mosquitoes are unusual in ... | 2008 | 18405828 |
| comparison of methods for xenomonitoring in vectors of lymphatic filariasis in northeastern tanzania. | monitoring wuchereria bancrofti infection in mosquitoes (xenomonitoring) can play an important role in determining when lymphatic filariasis has been eliminated, or in focusing control efforts. as mosquito infection rates can be low, a method for collecting large numbers of mosquitoes is necessary. gravid traps collected large numbers of culex quinquefasciatus in tanzania, and a collection method that targets mosquitoes that have already fed could result in increased sensitivity in detecting w. ... | 2015 | 26350454 |
| de novo transcriptome of the hemimetabolous german cockroach (blattella germanica). | the german cockroach, blattella germanica, is an important insect pest that transmits various pathogens mechanically and causes severe allergic diseases. this insect has long served as a model system for studies of insect biology, physiology and ecology. however, the lack of genome or transcriptome information heavily hinder our further understanding about the german cockroach in every aspect at a molecular level and on a genome-wide scale. to explore the transcriptome and identify unique sequen ... | 2014 | 25265537 |
| new highland distribution records of multiple anopheles species in the ecuadorian andes. | several recent climate change reviews have stressed the possibility of some malaria vectors occupying regions of higher altitudes than previously recorded. indeed, highland malaria has been observed in several african nations, possibly attributable to changes in land use, vector control and local climate. this study attempts to expand the current knowledge of the distribution of common anopheles species in ecuador, with particular attention to highland regions (> 500 m) of the andes. | 2011 | 21835004 |
| genetic diversity and signatures of selection of drug resistance in plasmodium populations from both human and mosquito hosts in continental equatorial guinea. | in plasmodium, the high level of genetic diversity and the interactions established by co-infecting parasite populations within the same host may be a source of selection on pathogen virulence and drug resistance. as different patterns have already been described in humans and mosquitoes, parasite diversity and population structure should be studied in both hosts to properly assess their effects on infection and transmission dynamics. this study aimed to characterize the circulating populations ... | 2013 | 23537170 |
| unexpected diversity of anopheles species in eastern zambia: implications for evaluating vector behavior and interventions using molecular tools. | the understanding of malaria vector species in association with their bionomic traits is vital for targeting malaria interventions and measuring effectiveness. many entomological studies rely on morphological identification of mosquitoes, limiting recognition to visually distinct species/species groups. anopheles species assignments based on ribosomal dna its2 and mitochondrial dna coi were compared to morphological identifications from luangwa and nyimba districts in zambia. the comparison of m ... | 2015 | 26648001 |
| spatial and temporal variation of malaria entomological parameters at the onset of a hydro-agricultural development in central côte d'ivoire. | a deeper understanding of the ecology and small-scale heterogeneity of malaria transmission is essential for the design of effective prevention, control and elimination interventions. the spatial and temporal distribution of malaria vectors was investigated in five villages in close proximity to a hydro-agricultural system in côte d'ivoire over the course of construction and the early phase of irrigated rice farming. | 2015 | 26341670 |
| assessment of control measures and trends of malaria in burie-zuria district, west gojjam zone, amhara region, north west ethiopia. | introduction. malaria is caused by the protozoan parasite plasmodium and transmitted by the bite of anopheles mosquitoes. the aim of this study was to assess control measures and trends of malaria and guide intervention measures at burie-zuria district, amhara region. methods. descriptive cross-sectional assessment of control measures was undertaken. we used health facility records of malaria data. we surveyed households for clinical malaria cases and utilization of long lasting impregnated nets ... | 2015 | 26171274 |
| sampling host-seeking anthropophilic mosquito vectors in west africa: comparisons of an active human-baited tent-trap against gold standard methods. | in this study, we characterize the ability of the previously described infoscitex tent (ist) to capture mosquitoes in comparison to either the centers for disease control light trap hung next to individuals under a bed net (ltc) or to human landing catches (hlc). in senegal, the ist caught 6.14 times the number of anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.), and 8.78 times the culex group v mosquitoes as ltc. in one of two locations in burkina faso, the ist caught an. gambiae at a rate not significantly ... | 2014 | 25422393 |
| a description of malaria sentinel surveillance: a case study in oromia regional state, ethiopia. | in the context of the massive scale up of malaria interventions, there is increasing recognition that the current capacity of routine malaria surveillance conducted in most african countries through integrated health management information systems is inadequate. the timeliness of reporting to higher levels of the health system through health management information systems is often too slow for rapid action on focal infectious diseases such as malaria. the purpose of this paper is to: 1) describe ... | 2014 | 24618105 |
| re-evaluation of microscopy confirmed plasmodium falciparum and plasmodium vivax malaria by nested pcr detection in southern ethiopia. | with 75% of the ethiopian population at risk of malaria, accurate diagnosis is crucial for malaria treatment in endemic areas where plasmodium falciparum and plasmodium vivax co-exist. the present study evaluated the performance of regular microscopy in accurate identification of plasmodium spp. in febrile patients visiting health facilities in southern ethiopia. | 2014 | 24502664 |
| spatial distribution of the sibling species of anopheles gambiae sensu lato (diptera: culicidae) and malaria prevalence in bayelsa state, nigeria. | much of the confusing ecophenotypic plasticity of anopheles gambiae sensu lato is attributable to the differential biological traits of the sibling species, with their heterogeneous geographical distribution, behavioral dissimilarities and divergent population dynamics. these differences are critical to their roles in malaria transmission. studies were, therefore, undertaken on the spatial distribution of these species and malaria prevalence rates in bayelsa state, september, 2008-august 2010. | 2014 | 24438675 |
| malaria control in south sudan, 2006-2013: strategies, progress and challenges. | south sudan has borne the brunt of years of chronic warfare and probably has the highest malaria burden in sub-saharan africa. however, effective malaria control in post-conflict settings is hampered by a multiplicity of challenges. this manuscript reports on the strategies, progress and challenges of malaria control in south sudan and serves as an example epitome for programmes operating in similar environments and provides a window for leveraging resources. | 2013 | 24160336 |
| severe and uncomplicated falciparum malaria in children from three regions and three ethnic groups in cameroon: prospective study. | to identify the factors that account for differences in clinical outcomes of malaria as well as its relationship with ethnicity, transmission intensity and parasite density. | 2012 | 22727184 |
| prevalence of malaria infection in butajira area, south-central ethiopia. | in 2005, the ethiopian government launched a massive expansion of the malaria prevention and control programme. the programme was aimed mainly at the reduction of malaria in populations living below 2,000 m above sea level. global warming has been implicated in the increase in the prevalence of malaria in the highlands. however, there is still a paucity of information on the occurrence of malaria at higher altitudes. the objective of this study was to estimate malaria prevalence in highland area ... | 2012 | 22443307 |
| wind direction and proximity to larval sites determines malaria risk in kilifi district in kenya. | studies of the fine-scale spatial epidemiology of malaria consistently identify malaria hotspots, comprising clusters of homesteads at high transmission intensity. these hotspots sustain transmission, and may be targeted by malaria-control programmes. here we describe the spatial relationship between the location of anopheles larval sites and human malaria infection in a cohort study of 642 children, aged 1-10-years-old. our data suggest that proximity to larval sites predict human malaria infec ... | 2012 | 22334077 |
| decreased motivation in the use of insecticide-treated nets in a malaria endemic area in burkina faso. | the use of insecticide-treated nets (itn) is an important tool in the roll back malaria (rbm) strategy. for itns to be effective they need to be used correctly. previous studies have shown that many factors, such as wealth, access to health care, education, ethnicity and gender, determine the ownership and use of itns. some studies showed that free distribution and public awareness campaigns increased the rate of use. however, there have been no evaluations of the short- and long-term impact of ... | 2009 | 19640290 |
| is nigeria winning the battle against malaria? prevalence, risk factors and kap assessment among hausa communities in kano state. | malaria is one of the most severe global public health problems worldwide, particularly in africa, where nigeria has the greatest number of malaria cases. this community-based study was designed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of malaria and to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (kap) regarding malaria among rural hausa communities in kano state, nigeria. | 2016 | 27392040 |
| malaria prevalence in bata district, equatorial guinea: a cross-sectional study. | malaria has traditionally been a leading public health problem in equatorial guinea. after completion, in september 2011, of the integrated set of interventions against malaria launched by the global fund malaria programme in the mainland area, the epidemiological situation of malaria remains unknown. the aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence rate of malaria and associated factors based on the rapid diagnosis test (rdt) in bata district, in order to provide evidence that will reinf ... | 2015 | 26573911 |
| urban malaria: understanding its epidemiology, ecology, and transmission across seven diverse icemr network sites. | a major public health question is whether urbanization will transform malaria from a rural to an urban disease. however, differences about definitions of urban settings, urban malaria, and whether malaria control should differ between rural and urban areas complicate both the analysis of available data and the development of intervention strategies. this report examines the approach of the international centers of excellence for malaria research (icemr) to urban malaria in brazil, colombia, indi ... | 2015 | 26259941 |
| factors contributing to urban malaria transmission in sub-saharan africa: a systematic review. | sub-saharan africa suffers by far the greatest malaria burden worldwide and is currently undergoing a profound demographic change, with a growing proportion of its population moving to urban areas. urbanisation is generally expected to reduce malaria transmission; however the disease still persists in african cities, in some cases at higher levels than in nearby rural areas. objective. this paper aims to collate and analyse risk factors for urban malaria transmission throughout sub-saharan afric ... | 2012 | 23125863 |
| mermithid nematodes found in adult anopheles from southeastern senegal. | over two dozen mermithid nematodes have been described parasitizing mosquitoes worldwide, however, only two species were found in africa. mermithid nematodes kill their mosquito host upon emergence, which suggests that they could be developed as biological control agents of mosquitoes. both romanomermis culicivorax and romanomermis iyengari have been reared for mass release to control numerous anopheles species vector populations, and in one instance this may have led to reduced malaria prevalen ... | 2012 | 22741946 |
| potential causes and consequences of behavioural resilience and resistance in malaria vector populations: a mathematical modelling analysis. | the ability of mosquitoes to evade fatal exposure to insecticidal nets and sprays represents the primary obstacle to eliminating malaria. however, it remains unclear which behaviours are most important for buffering mosquito and parasite populations against vector control. | 2014 | 24629066 |
| the mitochondrial genome of elodia flavipalpis aldrich (diptera: tachinidae) and the evolutionary timescale of tachinid flies. | tachinid flies are natural enemies of many lepidopteran and coleopteran pests of forests, crops, and fruit trees. in order to address the lack of genetic data in this economically important group, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of the palaearctic tachinid fly elodia flavipalpis aldrich, 1933. usually found in northern china and japan, this species is one of the primary natural enemies of the leaf-roller moths (tortricidae), which are major pests of various fruit trees. the 14,932 ... | 2013 | 23626734 |
| heterochromatin, histone modifications, and nuclear architecture in disease vectors. | interactions between a pathogen and a vector are plastic and dynamic. such interactions can be more rapidly accommodated by epigenetic changes than by genetic mutations. gene expression can be affected by the proximity to the heterochromatin, by local histone modifications, and by the three-dimensional position within the nucleus. recent studies of disease vectors indicate that gene regulation by these factors can be important for susceptibility to pathogens, reproduction, immunity, development, ... | 0 | 26097808 |
| comparison of two adult mosquito sampling methods with human landing catches in south-central ethiopia. | the human landing catch (hlc) is the standard reference method for measuring human exposure to mosquito bites. however, hlc is labour-intensive, exposes collectors to infectious mosquito bites and is subjected to collector bias. these necessitate local calibration and application of alternative methods. this study was undertaken to determine the relative sampling efficiency (rse) of light traps with or without yeast-produced carbon dioxide bait vs. hlc in south-central ethiopia. | 2017 | 28086776 |
| human-biting activities of anopheles species in south-central ethiopia. | indoor residual spraying (irs) and long-lasting insecticidal nets (llins) are the key malaria vector control interventions in ethiopia. the success of these interventions rely on their efficacy to repel or kill indoor feeding and resting mosquitoes. this study was undertaken to monitor human-biting patterns of anopheles species in south-central ethiopia. | 2016 | 27716416 |
| malaria impact of large dams in sub-saharan africa: maps, estimates and predictions. | while there is growing recognition of the malaria impacts of large dams in sub-saharan africa, the cumulative malaria impact of reservoirs associated with current and future dam developments has not been quantified. the objective of this study was to estimate the current and predict the future impact of large dams on malaria in different eco-epidemiological settings across sub-saharan africa. | 2015 | 26337834 |
| a systematic, realist review of zooprophylaxis for malaria control. | integrated vector management (ivm) is recommended as a sustainable approach to malaria control. ivm consists of combining vector control methods based on scientific evidence to maximize efficacy and cost-effectiveness while minimizing negative impacts, such as insecticide resistance and environmental damage. zooprophylaxis has been identified as a possible component of ivm as livestock may draw mosquitoes away from humans, decreasing human-vector contact and malaria transmission. it is possible, ... | 2015 | 26264913 |
| analysing the oviposition behaviour of malaria mosquitoes: design considerations for improving two-choice egg count experiments. | choice egg-count bioassays are a popular tool for analysing oviposition substrate preferences of gravid mosquitoes. this study aimed at improving the design of two-choice experiments for measuring oviposition substrates preferences of the malaria vector anopheles gambiae senso lato, a mosquito that lays single eggs. | 2015 | 26088669 |
| plasmodium falciparum infection during dry season: igg responses to anopheles gambiae salivary gsg6-p1 peptide as sensitive biomarker for malaria risk in northern senegal. | the northern part of senegal is characterized by a low and seasonal transmission of malaria. however, some plasmodium falciparum infections and malaria clinical cases are reported during the dry season. this study aims to assess the relationship between igg antibody (ab) responses to gsg6-p1 mosquito salivary peptide and the prevalence of p. falciparum infection in children during the dry season in the senegal river valley. the positive association of the ab response to gsg6-p1, as biomarker of ... | 2013 | 23988032 |
| incorporating the effects of humidity in a mechanistic model of anopheles gambiae mosquito population dynamics in the sahel region of africa. | low levels of relative humidity are known to decrease the lifespan of mosquitoes. however, most current models of malaria transmission do not account for the effects of relative humidity on mosquito survival. in the sahel, where relative humidity drops to levels <20% for several months of the year, we expect relative humidity to play a significant role in shaping the seasonal profile of mosquito populations. here, we present a new formulation for anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) mosquito surv ... | 2013 | 23938022 |
| assessment of anopheles salivary antigens as individual exposure biomarkers to species-specific malaria vector bites. | malaria transmission occurs during the blood feeding of infected anopheline mosquitoes concomitant with a saliva injection into the vertebrate host. in sub-saharan africa, most malaria transmission is due to anopheles funestus s.s and to anopheles gambiae s.l. (mainly anopheles gambiae s.s. and anopheles arabiensis). several studies have demonstrated that the immune response against salivary antigens could be used to evaluate individual exposure to mosquito bites. the aim of this study was to as ... | 2012 | 23276246 |
| igg responses to the gsg6-p1 salivary peptide for evaluating human exposure to anopheles bites in urban areas of dakar region, sénégal. | urban malaria can be a serious public health problem in africa. human-landing catches of mosquitoes, a standard entomological method to assess human exposure to malaria vector bites, can lack sensitivity in areas where exposure is low. a simple and highly sensitive tool could be a complementary indicator for evaluating malaria exposure in such epidemiological contexts. the human antibody response to the specific anopheles gsg6-p1 salivary peptide have been described as an adequate tool biomarker ... | 2012 | 22424570 |
| low and seasonal malaria transmission in the middle senegal river basin: identification and characteristics of anopheles vectors. | during the last decades two dams were constructed along the senegal river. these intensified the practice of agriculture along the river valley basin. we conducted a study to assess malaria vector diversity, dynamics and malaria transmission in the area. | 2012 | 22269038 |
| decrease of larval and subsequent adult anopheles sergentii populations following feeding of adult mosquitoes from bacillus sphaericus-containing attractive sugar baits. | bacillus sphaericus is a mosquito-larvae pathogen which proliferates in the host cadavers, spreading and preserving the infection within the larval habitats for prolonged periods. in this pilot field study, we presented b. sphaericus-containing attractive sugar baits (asb) to wild anopheles sergentii adults, with the assumption that bait-fed, b. sphaericus-carrying mosquitoes are able to efficiently transmit the pathogen to the larval habitats, causing larval mortality and leading to a decrease ... | 2015 | 25899788 |
| analysis of ovary-specific genes in relation to egg maturation and female nutritional condition in the mosquitoes georgecraigius atropalpus and aedes aegypti (diptera: culicidae). | analysis of the reproductive physiology of anautogenous mosquitoes at the molecular level is complicated by the simultaneity of ovarian maturation and the digestion of a blood meal. in contrast to anautogenous mosquitoes, autogenous female mosquitoes can acquire greater nutrient stores as larvae and exhibit higher ovarian production of ecdysteroids at adult eclosion. these features essentially replace the role of a blood meal in provisioning the first batch of eggs and initiating egg development ... | 2012 | 23238126 |
| treatment of livestock with systemic insecticides for control of anopheles arabiensis in western kenya. | despite the implementation of vector control strategies, including insecticide-treated bed nets (itn) and indoor residual spraying (irs) in western kenya, this area still experiences high level of malaria transmission. novel vector control tools are required which target such vector species, such as anopheles arabiensis, that feed outdoors and have minimal contact with itns and irs. | 2015 | 26377691 |
| vectorbase: an updated bioinformatics resource for invertebrate vectors and other organisms related with human diseases. | vectorbase is a national institute of allergy and infectious diseases supported bioinformatics resource center (brc) for invertebrate vectors of human pathogens. now in its 11th year, vectorbase currently hosts the genomes of 35 organisms including a number of non-vectors for comparative analysis. hosted data range from genome assemblies with annotated gene features, transcript and protein expression data to population genetics including variation and insecticide-resistance phenotypes. here we d ... | 2014 | 25510499 |
| de novo transcriptome sequencing and sequence analysis of the malaria vector anopheles sinensis (diptera: culicidae). | anopheles sinensis is the major malaria vector in china and southeast asia. vector control is one of the most effective measures to prevent malaria transmission. however, there is little transcriptome information available for the malaria vector. to better understand the biological basis of malaria transmission and to develop novel and effective means of vector control, there is a need to build a transcriptome dataset for functional genomics analysis by large-scale rna sequencing (rna-seq). | 2014 | 25000941 |
| isolation and propagation of a spiroplasma sp. from slovakian ixodes ricinus ticks in ixodes spp. cell lines. | ixodes spp. ticks are known to occasionally harbour spiroplasmas - helical mycoplasmas in the class mollicutes; a previous study in slovakia reported an overall prevalence of spiroplasma ixodetis of 3% in ixodes ricinus. in the present study, extracts of unfed adult i. ricinus ticks collected from vegetation in south-western slovakia were added to a panel of cell lines derived from i. ricinus and ixodes scapularis embryos. the cultures were monitored by preparation and examination of giemsa-stai ... | 2015 | 26003954 |
| an improved mosquito electrocuting trap that safely reproduces epidemiologically relevant metrics of mosquito human-feeding behaviours as determined by human landing catch. | reliable quantification of mosquito host-seeking behaviours is required to determine the efficacy of vector control methods. for malaria, the gold standard approach remains the risky human landing catch (hlc). here compare the performance of an improved prototype of the mosquito electrocuting grid trap (met) as a safer alternative with hlc for measuring malaria vector behaviour in dar es salaam, tanzania. | 2016 | 27618941 |
| a crispr-cas9 sex-ratio distortion system for genetic control. | genetic control aims to reduce the ability of insect pest populations to cause harm via the release of modified insects. one strategy is to bias the reproductive sex ratio towards males so that a population decreases in size or is eliminated altogether due to a lack of females. we have shown previously that sex ratio distortion can be generated synthetically in the main human malaria vector anopheles gambiae, by selectively destroying the x-chromosome during spermatogenesis, through the activity ... | 2016 | 27484623 |
| genomic signatures of population decline in the malaria mosquito anopheles gambiae. | population genomic features such as nucleotide diversity and linkage disequilibrium are expected to be strongly shaped by changes in population size, and might therefore be useful for monitoring the success of a control campaign. in the kilifi district of kenya, there has been a marked decline in the abundance of the malaria vector anopheles gambiae subsequent to the rollout of insecticide-treated bed nets. | 2016 | 27013475 |
| a genome-scale investigation of incongruence in culicidae mosquitoes. | comparison of individual gene trees in several recent phylogenomic studies from diverse lineages has revealed a surprising amount of topological conflict or incongruence, but we still know relatively little about its distribution across the tree of life. to further our understanding of incongruence, the factors that contribute to it and how it can be ameliorated, we examined its distribution in a clade of 20 culicidae mosquito species through the reconstruction and analysis of the phylogenetic h ... | 2015 | 26608059 |
| major decrease in malaria transmission on mayotte island. | plasmodium falciparum is responsible for most malaria cases on mayotte island, in the comorian archipelago. malaria is endemic and a major public health problem in the archipelago with an intense, stable and permanent transmission. this study reports results of 8 years of malaria surveillance from 2007 to 2014 after the strengthening of malaria control activities in mayotte and the neighbouring islands. | 2015 | 26285699 |
| long-lasting insecticidal nets no longer effectively kill the highly resistant anopheles funestus of southern mozambique. | chemical insecticides are crucial to malaria control and elimination programmes. the frontline vector control interventions depend mainly on pyrethroids; all long-lasting insecticidal nets (llins) and more than 80% of indoor residual spraying (irs) campaigns use chemicals from this class. this extensive use of pyrethroids imposes a strong selection pressure for resistance in mosquito populations, and so continuous resistance monitoring and evaluation are important. as pyrethroids have also been ... | 2015 | 26242977 |
| mosquito genomics. highly evolvable malaria vectors: the genomes of 16 anopheles mosquitoes. | variation in vectorial capacity for human malaria among anopheles mosquito species is determined by many factors, including behavior, immunity, and life history. to investigate the genomic basis of vectorial capacity and explore new avenues for vector control, we sequenced the genomes of 16 anopheline mosquito species from diverse locations spanning ~100 million years of evolution. comparative analyses show faster rates of gene gain and loss, elevated gene shuffling on the x chromosome, and more ... | 2014 | 25554792 |
| netting barriers to prevent mosquito entry into houses in southern mozambique: a pilot study. | one of the best ways to control the transmission of malaria is by breaking the vector-human link, either by reducing the effective population size of mosquitoes or avoiding infective bites. reducing house entry rates in endophagic vectors by obstructing openings is one simple way of achieving this. mosquito netting has previously been shown to have this effect. more recently different materials that could also be used have come onto the market. therefore, a pilot study was conducted to investiga ... | 2013 | 23497325 |
| evidence for population-specific positive selection on immune genes of anopheles gambiae. | host-pathogen interactions can be powerful drivers of adaptive evolution, shaping the patterns of molecular variation at the genes involved. in this study, we sequenced alleles from 28 immune-related loci in wild samples of multiple genetic subpopulations of the african malaria mosquito anopheles gambiae, obtaining unprecedented sample sizes and providing the first opportunity to contrast patterns of molecular evolution at immune-related loci in the recently discovered goundry population to thos ... | 2012 | 23275874 |
| entomological indices of malaria transmission in chikhwawa district, southern malawi. | although malaria is highly prevalent throughout malawi, little is known of its transmission dynamics. this paper describes the seasonal activity of the different vectors, human biting indices, sporozoite rates and the entomological inoculation rate in a low-lying rural area in southern malawi. | 2012 | 23171123 |
| a new chromosomal phylogeny supports the repeated origin of vectorial capacity in malaria mosquitoes of the anopheles gambiae complex. | understanding phylogenetic relationships within species complexes of disease vectors is crucial for identifying genomic changes associated with the evolution of epidemiologically important traits. however, the high degree of genetic similarity among sibling species confounds the ability to determine phylogenetic relationships using molecular markers. the goal of this study was to infer the ancestral-descendant relationships among malaria vectors and nonvectors of the anopheles gambiae species co ... | 2012 | 23055932 |
| participatory mapping of target areas to enable operational larval source management to suppress malaria vector mosquitoes in dar es salaam, tanzania. | half of the population of africa will soon live in towns and cities where it can be protected from malaria by controlling aquatic stages of mosquitoes. rigorous but affordable and scaleable methods for mapping and managing mosquito habitats are required to enable effective larval control in urban africa. | 2007 | 17784963 |
| ecologists can enable communities to implement malaria vector control in africa. | integrated vector management (ivm) for malaria control requires ecological skills that are very scarce and rarely applied in africa today. partnerships between communities and academic ecologists can address this capacity deficit, modernize the evidence base for such approaches and enable future scale up. | 2006 | 16457724 |
| malaria epidemiology and control within the international centers of excellence for malaria research. | understanding the epidemiological features and metrics of malaria in endemic populations is a key component to monitoring and quantifying the impact of current and past control efforts to inform future ones. the international centers of excellence for malaria research (icemr) has the opportunity to evaluate the impact of malaria control interventions across endemic regions that differ in the dominant plasmodium species, mosquito vector species, resistance to antimalarial drugs and human genetic ... | 2015 | 26259946 |
| implications for changes in anopheles darlingi biting behaviour in three communities in the peri-iquitos region of amazonian peru. | malaria transmission in the peri-iquitos region of amazonian peru has been designated as seasonal and hypo-endemic with recently described hyper-endemic hotspots. despite relatively recent distribution of long-lasting insecticidal bed nets (llins), malaria in amazonian peru persists and increased substantially in 2014 compared to previous years. anopheles darlingi, identified as the main malaria vector, is known for its variable behaviour depending on locality and environment. | 2015 | 26223450 |
| a community-wide study of malaria reduction: evaluating efficacy and user-acceptance of a low-cost repellent in northern ghana. | no mas (nm) mosquito repellent was evaluated in two farming villages (4 km apart) in the kassena nankana district of northern ghana. we determined its efficacy against local malaria vectors, degree of user acceptance, and its effect on malaria prevalence in households using insecticide-treated bed nets. the average protective efficacy of nm against anopheles mosquitoes over 9 hours was 89.6%. controls averaged 86 bites/person/night versus 9 bites/person/night with the use of nm. use of repellent ... | 2012 | 23249683 |
| combining indoor residual spraying and insecticide-treated nets for malaria control in africa: a review of possible outcomes and an outline of suggestions for the future. | insecticide-treated nets (itns) and indoor residual spraying (irs) are currently the preferred methods of malaria vector control. in many cases, these methods are used together in the same households, especially to suppress transmission in holoendemic and hyperendemic scenarios. though widespread, there has been limited evidence suggesting that such co-application confers greater protective benefits than either itns or irs when used alone. since both methods are insecticide-based and intradomici ... | 2011 | 21798053 |
| antibodies to a single, conserved epitope in anopheles apn1 inhibit universal transmission of plasmodium falciparum and plasmodium vivax malaria. | malaria transmission-blocking vaccines (tbvs) represent a promising approach for the elimination and eradication of this disease. anapn1 is a lead tbv candidate that targets a surface antigen on the midgut of the obligate vector of the plasmodium parasite, the anopheles mosquito. in this study, we demonstrated that antibodies targeting anapn1 block transmission of plasmodium falciparum and plasmodium vivax across distantly related anopheline species in countries to which malaria is endemic. usin ... | 2013 | 24478095 |
| transinfection: a method to investigate wolbachia-host interactions and control arthropod-borne disease. | the bacterial endosymbiont wolbachia manipulates arthropod host biology in numerous ways, including sex ratio distortion and differential offspring survival. these bacteria infect a vast array of arthropods, some of which pose serious agricultural and human health threats. wolbachia-mediated phenotypes such as cytoplasmic incompatibility and/or pathogen interference can be used for vector and disease control; however, many medically important vectors and important agricultural species are uninfe ... | 2013 | 24329998 |
| infravec: research capacity for the implementation of genetic control of mosquitoes. | mosquitoes represent a major and global cause of human suffering due to the diseases they transmit. these include parasitic diseases, i.e. malaria and filariasis, and viral infections such as dengue, encephalitis, and yellow fever. the threat of mosquito-borne diseases is not limited to tropical and subtropical regions of the world. trade and climate changes have opened new niches to tropical vectors in temperate areas of the world, thus putting previously unaffected regions at risk of disease t ... | 0 | 24428829 |
| positive selection drives accelerated evolution of mosquito salivary genes associated with blood-feeding. | the saliva of bloodsucking animals contains dozens to hundreds of proteins that counteract their hosts' haemostasis, inflammation and immunity. it was previously observed that salivary proteins involved in haematophagy are much more divergent in their primary sequence than those of housekeeping function, when comparisons were made between closely related organisms. while this pattern of evolution could result from relaxed selection or drift, it could alternatively be the result of positive selec ... | 2013 | 24237399 |
| overexpression of multiple detoxification genes in deltamethrin resistant laodelphax striatellus (hemiptera: delphacidae) in china. | the small brown planthopper (sbph), laodelphax striatellus (fallén), is one of the major rice pests in asia and has developed resistance to multiple classes of insecticides. understanding resistance mechanisms is essential to the management of this pest. biochemical and molecular assays were performed in this study to systematically characterize deltamethrin resistance mechanisms with laboratory-selected resistant and susceptible strains of sbph. | 2013 | 24324548 |
| evaluation of the long-lasting insecticidal net interceptor ln: laboratory and experimental hut studies against anopheline and culicine mosquitoes in northeastern tanzania. | long lasting insecticidal nets (ln) are a primary method of malaria prevention. before new types of ln are approved they need to meet quality and efficacy standards set by the who pesticide evaluation scheme. the process of evaluation has three phases. in phase i the candidate ln must meet threshold bioassay criteria after 20 standardized washes. in phase ii washed and unwashed lns are evaluated in experimental huts against wild, free flying anopheline mosquitoes. in phase iii the ln are distrib ... | 2013 | 24499488 |
| overexpression of phosphatase and tensin homolog improves fitness and decreases plasmodium falciparum development in anopheles stephensi. | the insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (iis) cascade is highly conserved and regulates diverse physiological processes such as metabolism, lifespan, reproduction and immunity. transgenic overexpression of akt, a critical regulator of iis, was previously shown to shorten mosquito lifespan and increase resistance to the human malaria parasite plasmodium falciparum. to further understand how iis controls mosquito physiology and resistance to malaria parasite infection, we overexpressed an ... | 2013 | 23774695 |