Abstract
BackgroundThe Atlantic rainforest ecosystem, where bromeliads are abundant, provides an excellent environment for Kerteszia species, because these anophelines use the axils of those plants as larval habitat. Anopheles (K.) cruzii and Anopheles (K.) bellator are considered the primary vectors of malaria in the Atlantic forest. Although the incidence of malaria has declined in some areas of the Atlantic forest, autochthonous cases are still registered every year, with Anopheles cruzii being considered to be a primary vector of both human and simian Plasmodium.MethodsRecent publications that addressed ecological aspects that are important for understanding the involvement of Kerteszia species in the epidemiology of malaria in the Atlantic rainforest in the Neotropical Region were analysed.ConclusionThe current state of knowledge about Kerteszia species in relation to the Atlantic rainforest ecosystem was discussed. Emphasis was placed on ecological characteristics related to epidemiological aspects of this group of mosquitoes. The main objective was to investigate biological aspects of the species that should be given priority in future studies.
Highlights
The Atlantic rainforest ecosystem, where bromeliads are abundant, provides an excellent environment for Kerteszia species, because these anophelines use the axils of those plants as larval habitat
Among the remaining Kerteszia species, this approach was only used with An. bellator species, and the results indicated a low level of gene flow between Brazilian populations
The Kerteszia species Atlantic forest domain are relatively well known in Brazil
Summary
The Kerteszia species Atlantic forest domain are relatively well known in Brazil. the distribution limits of each species need to be studied in detail because of the scarcity of distribution studies and the continuous and intense environmental changes that can restrict the geographic distribution of a mosquito taxon. The tendency is for the territory of the Kerteszia subgenus in Brazil, and the populations of these anophelines, to be preserved because of the growing environmental protection as a result of worldwide ecological awareness This can be explained by the strong dependence of this taxon on the forest, and the terms "forest-malaria" and "bromeliad-malaria" are both appropriate. Occasional malaria outbreaks have happened in the area in the last years, with significantly higher number of malaria cases compared with what was being annually reported, probably due to environment changes and the high number of asymptomatic individuals in the area acting as reservoirs In this way, all the territory in the Atlantic forest that survived deforestation will need to be carefully monitored, by researchers and by health and control services.
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