How to translate text using browser tools
1 June 2013 Role of Species Composition in Malaria Transmission by the Anopheles funestus Group (Diptera: Culicidae) in Ghana
Samuel K. Dadzie, Ruth Brenyah, Maxwell A. Appawu
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Malaria remains a public health problem in Ghana, with Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles funestus as the predominant vectors. While much information exists on the species composition of An. gambiae, very little exists for An. funestus. This study was carried out to determine the species composition of An. funestus Giles populations from three ecological areas in Ghana and investigate their role in malaria transmission. Mosquitoes were collected using human landing and pyrethrum spray methods. A total of 10,254 Anopheles individuals were collected, out of which An. funestus constituted 53.6% (5,496). An. funestus sensu stricto (s.s.) and Anopheles lessoni were identified as the only members of the An. funestus group in all three ecological areas. All 62 sporozoite positive specimens that were identified as An. funestus s.s. were highly anthropophilic with a human blood index in the range of 80–96%, whereas more than 83% of the An. leesoni had fed on either bovine, goat, or sheep. Malaria transmission was higher in the Sahel savannah area than the rest of the ecological zones, with An. funestus s.s. being implicated as a vector of malaria in all ecological zones. Anopheles leesoni occurred in all the ecological areas but played no role in malaria transmission. The study established the importance of An. funestus s.s. in malaria transmission in Ghana.

Samuel K. Dadzie, Ruth Brenyah, and Maxwell A. Appawu "Role of Species Composition in Malaria Transmission by the Anopheles funestus Group (Diptera: Culicidae) in Ghana," Journal of Vector Ecology 38(1), 105-110, (1 June 2013). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1948-7134.2013.12015.x
Received: 25 October 2012; Accepted: 24 December 2012; Published: 1 June 2013
JOURNAL ARTICLE
6 PAGES

This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
+ SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

KEYWORDS
Anopheles funestus
ecology
Ghana
malaria
mosquitoes
transmission
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top