Abstract
BackgroundMalaria remains a worldwide public health concern and, in Colombia, despite the efforts to stop malaria transmission, the incidence of cases has increased over the last few years. In this context, it is necessary to evaluate vector diversity, infection rates, and spatial distribution, to better understand disease transmission dynamics. This information may contribute to the planning and development of vector control strategies.ResultsA total of 778 Anopheles mosquitoes were collected in fifteen localities of Córdoba from August 2015 to October 2016. Six species were identified and overall, Anopheles albimanus was the most widespread and abundant species (83%). Other species of the Nyssorhynchus subgenus were collected, including Anopheles triannulatus (13%), Anopheles nuneztovari (1%), Anopheles argyritarsis (< 1%) and two species belonging to the Anopheles subgenus: Anopheles pseudopunctipennis (3%) and Anopheles neomaculipalpus (< 1%). Four species were found naturally infected with two Plasmodium species: Anopheles nuneztovari was detected naturally infected with Plasmodium falciparum and Anopheles pseudopunctipennis with Plasmodium vivax, whereas An. albimanus and An. triannulatus were found infected with both parasite species and confirmed by nested PCR.ConclusionsIn general, the obtained results were contrasting with previous studies in terms of the most abundant and widespread collected species, and regarding infection rates, which were higher than those previously reported. A positive relationship between mosquito local abundance at the locality level and human infection at the municipality level was found. Mosquito local abundance and the number of houses with mosquitoes in each village are factors explaining malaria human cases in these villages. The obtained results suggest that other factors related to the apparent variation in malaria eco-epidemiology in northern Colombia, must be identified, to provide health authorities with better decision tools aiming to design control and prevention strategies.
Highlights
Malaria remains a worldwide public health concern and, in Colombia, despite the efforts to stop malaria transmission, the incidence of cases has increased over the last few years
In 2016, the National System of Public Health Vigilance (SIVIGILA by its Spanish acronym) reported 83,356 cases of malaria in Colombia of which 47,497 (57%) were caused by P. falciparum, the parasite responsible for cerebral malaria, while 33,055 (40%) corresponded to P. vivax and 3.3% to mixed infection [4]. This increase in the number of cases caused by P. falciparum was recorded in other countries, including Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Honduras, implying a higher risk of complicated malaria, and indicating failures in the access to treatment and in vector control [2]
There were no significant differences between the average number of Anopheles collected indoors or outdoors either for total counts (p = 0.519) or individual species An. albimanus (p = 0.634), An. triannulatus (p = 0.663)
Summary
Malaria remains a worldwide public health concern and, in Colombia, despite the efforts to stop malaria transmission, the incidence of cases has increased over the last few years In this context, it is necessary to evaluate vector diversity, infection rates, and spatial distribution, to better understand disease transmission dynamics. In 2016, the National System of Public Health Vigilance (SIVIGILA by its Spanish acronym) reported 83,356 cases of malaria in Colombia of which 47,497 (57%) were caused by P. falciparum, the parasite responsible for cerebral malaria, while 33,055 (40%) corresponded to P. vivax and 3.3% to mixed infection [4] This increase in the number of cases caused by P. falciparum was recorded in other countries, including Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Honduras, implying a higher risk of complicated malaria, and indicating failures in the access to treatment and in vector control [2]
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