Abstract
Despite the annual implementation of a robust and extensive indoor residual spraying programme against malaria vectors in Limpopo Province (South Africa), significant transmission continues and is a serious impediment to South Africa’s malaria elimination objectives. In order to gain a better understanding regarding possible causes of this residual malaria, we conducted a literature review of the historical species composition and abundance of malaria vector mosquitoes in the Limpopo River Valley region of the Vhembe District, northern Limpopo Province, the region with the highest remaining annual malaria cases in South Africa. In addition, mosquito surveys were carried out in the same region between October 2017 and October 2018. A total of 2225 adult mosquitoes were collected using CO2-baited tent and light traps, human landing catches and cow-baited traps. Of the 1443 Anopheles collected, 516 were members of the An. gambiae complex and 511 An. funestus group. In the malaria endemic rural areas outside the Kruger National Park, one specimen each of An. gambiae s.s. and An. funestus and only three of An. arabiensis were collected. The latter species was abundant at a remote hot spring in the neighboring Kruger National Park. Eighteen other species of Anopheles were collected. Our survey results support the historical findings that An. arabiensis, the species widely held to be the prime malaria vector in South Africa, is a rare species in the malaria endemic Limpopo River Valley. The implications of the mosquito surveys for malaria transmission, elimination and vector control in northern Limpopo Province and neighboring regions are discussed.
Highlights
The more northern regions of the Republic of South Africa have historically suffered heavily from the impact of malaria, reflected in both popular and scientific accounts [1,2,3,4]
The first records reflecting Anopheles species composition and some idea of distribution and general abundance are those of Ingram and De Meillon [6,7], published in 1927 and 1929
They report on mosquito surveys conducted along the railway lines in the “northern Transvaal” (Limpopo Province) on mosquito surveys conducted along the railway lines in the “northern Transvaal” (Limpopo and “eastern Transvaal” (Mpumalanga Province), and along the coastal belt of Zululand
Summary
This study took place in the malaria endemic region of northern South Africa in what is currently known as Limpopo Province, one of four sub-divisions of what was previously the much larger “Transvaal” Province. Within Limpopo Province, the Vhembe Municipal District is the area most heavily impacted by malaria in South Africa. It is located in the extreme north-eastern region of South Africa directly adjoining Zimbabwe and Mozambique, countries with which there is substantial trans-border movement of people, such as temporary migrant workers. The low-lying Limpopo River valley within this north-eastern corner has a high annual malaria incidence (in the context of South Africa), and we conducted mosquito surveillance in or near rural settlements or settings known for high
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