HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (7) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by SHILILU, J. Articles by BEIER, J. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by SHILILU, J. Articles by BEIER, J. C. Pubmed/NCBI databases Substance via MeSH

DISTRIBUTION OF ANOPHELINE MOSQUITOES IN ERITREA

The spatial distribution of anopheline mosquito species was studied throughout Eritrea during the 1999–2001 malaria transmission seasons from October to December for the highlands and western lowlands and February to April for the coastal region. Of the 302 villages sampled, 59 were visited in both the first and second year. Overall, 13 anopheline species were identified, with the Anopheles gambiae complex predominating during the first year (75.6%, n = 861) and the second year (91.9%, n = 1,262). Intrazonal variation accounted for 90% of the total variation in mosquito distribution. Polymerase chain reaction results indicated that 99% (n = 1,309) of the An. gambiae s.l. specimens were An. arabiensis, indicating that this was the only member of the gambiae complex present. There was a high degree of aggregation of anophelines within zones and villages, with more than 80% of the total anophelines being collected from less than 20% of the villages and from only 10% of the houses sampled. At least 80% of the anopheline mosquitoes were collected from grass-thatched Agudo-type housing. Vector abundance showed an inverse relationship with elevation, with highest densities in the low-lying western lowlands. Multiple regression analysis of log-transformed mean density of An. arabiensis with rainfall and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) (average NDVI, minimum NDVI, and maximum NDVI) showed that these independent variables were not significantly associated with mosquito densities (R² = 0.058). Our study contributes to the basic understanding of the ecology and distribution of malaria vectors with respect to species composition and spatial heterogeneities both that could be used to guide vector control operations in Eritrea.

Received December 30, 2002. Accepted for publication June 10, 2003.

Acknowledgments: This work was performed by the Eritrea National Malaria Control Program to improve the knowledge base for malaria vector control decisions. We thank the program’s headquarters staff (Yohannes Bein, Fessahaye Seulu, Asmelash G. Egzibiher, and David Sintasath) for technical support, and the zonal staff for conducting the field surveys. We acknowledge the valuable support received from Saleh Meky (Honorable Minister of Health), Dr. Andom Ogbamariam (Director of Communicable Diseases Control), the Chief, Health Strengthening Office, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Asmara, Linda Lou Kelley, and Eugene Brantly (Activity Manager, Environmental Health Project).

Financial support: The study was funded by the USAID through a mechanism for cooperation with the Ministry of Health, Eritrea, and with technical support from the USAID Environmental Health Project.

Authors’ addresses: Josephat Shililu, National Malaria Control Program, Division of Communicable Diseases Control, Ministry of Health, PO Box 212 Asmara, Eritrea and International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, PO Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya. Tewolde Ghebremeskel, Solomon Mengistu, Helen Fekadu, and Mehari Zerom, National Malaria Control Program, Division of Communicable Diseases Control, Ministry of Health, PO Box 212 Asmara, Eritrea. Charles Mbogo and John Githure, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, PO Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya, Telephone: 254-2-861-680, Fax: 254-2-860110. Weidong Gu and Robert Novak, Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 E. Peabody, Champaign, IL, Telephone: 217-333-1186, Fax: 217-333-2359. John C. Beier, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami School of Medicine, Highland Professional Building, 1801 NW 9th Avenue, Suite 300 (D-93), Miami, FL 33136, Telephone: 305-243-2977, Fax: 305-243-3324.

Reprint requests: Josephat Shililu, National Malaria Control Program, Division of Communicable Diseases Control, Ministry of Health, PO Box 212, Asmara, Eritrea. Telephone: 291-1-125-529, Fax: 291-1-122-899 or 291-1-125835, E-mail: shililu{at}gemel.com.er.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. M. SINTASATH, T. GHEBREMESKEL, M. LYNCH, E. KLEINAU, G. BRETAS, J. SHILILU, E. BRANTLY, P. M. GRAVES, and J. C. BEIER MALARIA PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS IN ERITREA Am J Trop Med Hyg, June 1, 2005; 72(6): 682 - 687. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]