Abstract
Background. Larval mosquito habitats of potential malaria vectors and related species of Anopheles from three provinces (Gyeonggi, Gyeongsangbuk, Chungcheongbuk Provinces) of the Republic of Korea were surveyed in 2007. This study aimed to determine the species composition, seasonal occurrence and distributions of Anopheles mosquitoes. Satellite derived normalized difference vegetation index data (NDVI) was also used to study the seasonal abundance patterns of Anopheles mosquitoes. Methods. Mosquito larvae from various habitats were collected using a standard larval dipper or a white plastic larval tray, placed in plastic bags, and were preserved in 100% ethyl alcohol for species identification by PCR and DNA sequencing. The habitats in the monthly larval surveys included artificial containers, ground depressions, irrigation ditches, drainage ditches, ground pools, ponds, rice paddies, stream margins, inlets and pools, swamps, and uncultivated fields. All field-collected specimens were identified to species, and relationships among habitats and locations based on species composition were determined using cluster statistical analysis. Results. In about 10,000 specimens collected, eight species of Anopheles belonging to three groups were identified: Hyrcanus Group - Anopheles sinensis, Anopheles kleini, Anopheles belenrae, Anopheles pullus, Anopheles lesteri, Anopheles sineroides; Barbirostris Group - Anopheles koreicus; and Lindesayi Group - Anopheles lindesayi japonicus. Only An. sinensis was collected from all habitats groups, while An. kleini, An. pullus and An. sineroides were sampled from all, except artificial containers. The highest number of Anopheles larvae was found in the rice paddies (34.8%), followed by irrigation ditches (23.4%), ponds (17.0%), and stream margins, inlets and pools (12.0%). Anopheles sinensis was the dominant species, followed by An. kleini, An. pullus and An. sineroides. The monthly abundance data of the Anopheles species from three locations (Munsan, Jinbo and Hayang) were compared against NDVI and NDVI anomalies. Conclusion. The species composition of Anopheles larvae varied in different habitats at various locations. Anopheles populations fluctuated with the seasonal dynamics of vegetation for 2007. Multi-year data of mosquito collections are required to provide a better characterization of the abundance of these insects from year to year, which can potentially provide predictive capability of their population density based on remotely sensed ecological measurements.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 55 |
| Journal | Malaria Journal |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2010 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Funding
Thanks go to A. Driskell and G. Harrison (Laboratory of Analytical Biology, Smithsonian Institution) for conducting PCR/sequencing of some mosquito samples; personnel of the 5th Medical Detachment, and staff of 65th Medical Brigade, U.S. Army, ROK, for field collections of mosquito specimens; and J. Pecor and WRBU staff for curatorial help. Special thanks go to D. J. Brambilla (Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC) for statistical analysis; and G. Bieler (RTP, NC), C. Lim (WRAIR) and V. Sherwood (WRAIR) for statistical and related support. We are grateful to F. Ruiz, C. R. Summers and B. P. Rueda for helpful reviews of the manuscript. Funding for this work was provided by the Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response Systems, Silver Spring, MD. This research was performed under a Memorandum of Understanding between the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and the Smithsonian Institution, with institutional support provided by both organizations. The opinions and assertions contained herein are those of the authors and are not to be construed as official or reflecting the views of the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine |
