Abstract
Malaria in La Guajira, the most northern state of Colombia, shows two different epidemiological patterns. Malaria is endemic in the municipality of Dibulla whereas in Riohacha it is characterised by sporadic outbreaks. This study aimed to establish whether differences in transmission patterns could be attributed to different vector species. The most abundant adult female species were Anopheles aquasalis, exclusive to Riohacha, and Anopheles darlingi, restricted to Dibulla. Anopheles mosquitoes were identified using morphology and the molecular markers internal transcribed spacer 2 and cytochrome c oxidase I. All specimens (n = 1,393) were tested by ELISA to determine natural infection rates with Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. An. darlingi was positive for P. vivax 210, with an infection rate of 0.355% and an entomological inoculation rate of 15.87 infective bites/person/year. Anopheles albimanus larvae were the most common species in Riohacha, found in temporary swamps; in contrast, in Dibulla An. darlingi were detected mainly in permanent streams. Distinctive species composition and larval habitats in each municipality may explain the differences in Plasmodium transmission and suggest different local strategies should be used for vector control.
Highlights
Even though Riohacha and Dibulla have been the localities most affected during malaria outbreaks, ecological conditions and epidemiological patterns of the disease are distinctive in each municipality
Dibulla is located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, where malaria is endemic, cases of P. falciparum were more common in the 90’s (Cáceres et al 2000) and P. vivax predominated from the 2008-2009 outbreak (SIVIGILA 2013)
Given the differences in Plasmodium transmission in Dibulla and Riohacha and the diversity of species reported in La Guajira, this study aimed to identify the species of Anopheles present in these two municipalities and to determine their natural infectivity with Plasmodium as a first step to incriminate the malaria vectors in the region
Summary
Even though Riohacha and Dibulla have been the localities most affected during malaria outbreaks, ecological conditions and epidemiological patterns of the disease are distinctive in each municipality. Given the differences in Plasmodium transmission in Dibulla and Riohacha and the diversity of species reported in La Guajira, this study aimed to identify the species of Anopheles present in these two municipalities and to determine their natural infectivity with Plasmodium as a first step to incriminate the malaria vectors in the region.
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