The Rôle of Some Common Anopheline Mosquitoes of Panama in the Transmission of Malaria

Abstract

Summary and Conclusions 1. In seven experiments, a total of 100 A. albitarsis and 113 A. albimanus controls were fed on P. falciparum gametocyte carriers; 4, or 4.0 per cent, of the albitarsis became lightly infected, while 37, or 32.7 per cent, of the albimanus controls became infected, many of them heavily, indicating that A. albitarsis in Panama is quite refractory to infection with P. falciparum, as compared with A. albimanus. 2. A. bachmanni can be infected with human malaria parasites, but its preference for animal blood renders it harmless so far as malaria transmission in Panama is concerned. 3. A. punctimacula frequently seeks blood in man's habitations, but it also feeds on animals. It is too scarce to be of importance in malaria transmission in the Chagres River villages. 4. The long list of Anophelines known to be present in Panama is an imposing one; however, as most of the species are rare, limited in their distribution, seasonal in their breeding habits, or are animal feeders, malaria control in Panama is still dependent upon the control of the only really dangerous Anopheline present in this region: Anopheles albimanus.