Abstract
BackgroundUnderstanding local anopheline vector species and their bionomic traits, as well as related human factors, can help combat gaps in protection.MethodsIn San José de Chamanga, Esmeraldas, at the Ecuadorian Pacific coast, anopheline mosquitoes were sampled by both human landing collections (HLCs) and indoor-resting aspirations (IAs) and identified using both morphological and molecular methods. Human behaviour observations (HBOs) (including temporal location and bed net use) were documented during HLCs as well as through community surveys to determine exposure to mosquito bites. A cross-sectional evaluation of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax infections was conducted alongside a malaria questionnaire.ResultsAmong 222 anopheline specimens captured, based on molecular analysis, 218 were Nyssorhynchus albimanus, 3 Anopheles calderoni (n = 3), and one remains unidentified. Anopheline mean human-biting rate (HBR) outdoors was (13.69), and indoors (3.38) (p = 0.006). No anophelines were documented resting on walls during IAs. HBO-adjusted human landing rates suggested that the highest risk of being bitten was outdoors between 18.00 and 20.00 h. Human behaviour-adjusted biting rates suggest that overall, long-lasting insecticidal bed nets (LLINs) only protected against 13.2% of exposure to bites, with 86.8% of exposure during the night spent outside of bed net protection. The malaria survey found 2/398 individuals positive for asymptomatic P. falciparum infections. The questionnaire reported high (73.4%) bed net use, with low knowledge of malaria.ConclusionThe exophagic feeding of anopheline vectors in San Jose de Chamanga, when analysed in conjunction with human behaviour, indicates a clear gap in protection even with high LLIN coverage. The lack of indoor-resting anophelines suggests that indoor residual spraying (IRS) may have limited effect. The presence of asymptomatic infections implies the presence of a human reservoir that may maintain transmission.
Highlights
Understanding local anopheline vector species and their bionomic traits, as well as related human fac‐ tors, can help combat gaps in protection
Considering that malaria eradication is reestablished as a goal on the global health agenda, it is critically important to understand why the previous Global Malaria Eradication Programme (GMEP) did not achieve its goals, thereby ensuring that present efforts are effective [2]
Effective control and elimination efforts resulted in Ecuador having a considerable decrease in malaria cases since 2001
Summary
Understanding local anopheline vector species and their bionomic traits, as well as related human fac‐ tors, can help combat gaps in protection. Between 2016 and 2017 there was a worldwide increase of reported malaria cases by approximately 2 million. Considering that malaria eradication is reestablished as a goal on the global health agenda, it is critically important to understand why the previous Global Malaria Eradication Programme (GMEP) did not achieve its goals, thereby ensuring that present efforts are effective [2]. In order to achieve malaria elimination, programmes need to approach malaria transmission from multiple perspectives, including effective control of the parasite reservoir in both vector and human hosts. Effective control and elimination efforts resulted in Ecuador having a considerable decrease in malaria cases since 2001. The World Health Organization (WHO) included Ecuador in the E-2020 Initiative, together with other countries that were identified as being likely to reach zero indigenous cases by 2020 [1]. The malaria elimination efforts are complicated by the presence of asymptomatic and imported cases [5, 7]
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