Comparative Susceptibility of Anopheles Gambiae Theo. and Anopheles Melas Giles to Infection by Plasmodium Falciparum in Liberia, West Africa
Summary
In comparative feedings 888 Anopheles gambiae and 410 Anopheles melas fed on 12 African subjects with naturally acquired Plasmodium falciparum infections. Dissections of both guts and glands suggested a higher susceptibility in A. gambiae than in A. melas. In 11 of these feedings (C.D.I was not included because of abnormal circumstances) A. gambiae fed consistently better than did A. melas.
The combined factors of greater susceptibility and greater desire to feed on humans should make A. gambiae considerably more important than A. melas as a transmitter of P. falciparum.