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Receptivity to malaria in Europe
Bulletin of the World Health Organization
|January 1, 1975
Summary
Anopheles mosquitoes in Europe show refractoriness to tropical malaria parasites. This suggests lower malaria receptivity in Europe than previously assumed, despite high vector populations.
Area of Science:
- Medical entomology
- Infectious disease epidemiology
Background:
- Malaria transmission in Europe is influenced by mosquito vectors like Anopheles.
- Understanding vector competence for Plasmodium falciparum is crucial for assessing malaria risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the refractoriness of Anopheles atroparvus to tropical Plasmodium falciparum strains.
- To compare the susceptibility of Anopheles atroparvus and Anopheles labranchiae to malaria parasites.
Main Methods:
- Experimental infection of Anopheles mosquitoes with tropical Plasmodium falciparum strains.
- Assessment of mosquito refractoriness to parasite development.
Main Results:
- Anopheles atroparvus demonstrated refractoriness to tropical Plasmodium falciparum strains.
- Anopheles labranchiae may also exhibit refractoriness to these strains.
Conclusions:
- European Anopheles mosquitoes possess a degree of refractoriness to tropical malaria parasites.
- This finding implies a potentially lower malaria receptivity in Europe than suggested by current vector and parasite carrier data.