Abstract
BackgroundThe final article in a series of three publications examining the global distribution of 41 dominant vector species (DVS) of malaria is presented here. The first publication examined the DVS from the Americas, with the second covering those species present in Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Here we discuss the 19 DVS of the Asian-Pacific region. This region experiences a high diversity of vector species, many occurring sympatrically, which, combined with the occurrence of a high number of species complexes and suspected species complexes, and behavioural plasticity of many of these major vectors, adds a level of entomological complexity not comparable elsewhere globally. To try and untangle the intricacy of the vectors of this region and to increase the effectiveness of vector control interventions, an understanding of the contemporary distribution of each species, combined with a synthesis of the current knowledge of their behaviour and ecology is needed.ResultsExpert opinion (EO) range maps, created with the most up-to-date expert knowledge of each DVS distribution, were combined with a contemporary database of occurrence data and a suite of open access, environmental and climatic variables. Using the Boosted Regression Tree (BRT) modelling method, distribution maps of each DVS were produced. The occurrence data were abstracted from the formal, published literature, plus other relevant sources, resulting in the collation of DVS occurrence at 10116 locations across 31 countries, of which 8853 were successfully geo-referenced and 7430 were resolved to spatial areas that could be included in the BRT model. A detailed summary of the information on the bionomics of each species and species complex is also presented.ConclusionsThis article concludes a project aimed to establish the contemporary global distribution of the DVS of malaria. The three articles produced are intended as a detailed reference for scientists continuing research into the aspects of taxonomy, biology and ecology relevant to species-specific vector control. This research is particularly relevant to help unravel the complicated taxonomic status, ecology and epidemiology of the vectors of the Asia-Pacific region. All the occurrence data, predictive maps and EO-shape files generated during the production of these publications will be made available in the public domain. We hope that this will encourage data sharing to improve future iterations of the distribution maps.
Highlights
The final article in a series of three publications examining the global distribution of 41 dominant vector species (DVS) of malaria is presented here
Second only to Africa, central and southeastern Asia suffers with 39% of the global malaria burden [2], with pockets of medium to high endemicity found in Orissa State, western Myanmar and the lowlands of New Guinea [3]
The findings suggest that An. sinensis is a less effective vector of malaria in Korea than other members of the Hyrcanus Group
Summary
The final article in a series of three publications examining the global distribution of 41 dominant vector species (DVS) of malaria is presented here. We discuss the 19 DVS of the Asian-Pacific region This region experiences a high diversity of vector species, many occurring sympatrically, which, combined with the occurrence of a high number of species complexes and suspected species complexes, and behavioural plasticity of many of these major vectors, adds a level of entomological complexity not comparable elsewhere globally. The Asian-Pacific region experiences a notably high diversity of vector species, species complexes and suspected species complexes, many occurring sympatrically and exhibiting a high level of behavioural plasticity [1] This complexity, and the taxonomic ambiguity of many of the dominant vector species (DVS) of the region, is a major contributing factor to the continuing impact of malaria in this area. Even amongst those species that are not members of a complex, behavioural differences are common depending upon location, such that a species can be considered a primary vector in one area, but of secondary or no importance elsewhere [8]
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