Anopheles mortality is both age- and Plasmodium-density dependent: implications for malaria transmission.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Daily mortality is an important determinant of a vector's ability to transmit pathogens. Original simplifying assumptions in malaria transmission models presume vector mortality is independent of age, infection status and parasite load. Previous studies illustrate conflicting evidence as to the importance of Plasmodium-induced vector mortality, but very few studies to date have considered the effect of infection density on mosquito survival.

Methods

A series of three experiments were conducted, each consisting of four cages of 400-1,000 Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes fed on blood infected with different Plasmodium berghei ookinete densities per microlitre of blood. Twice daily the numbers of dead mosquitoes in each group were recorded, and on alternate days a samp

SUBMITTER: Dawes EJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2770541 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature