Scientist B & Officer Incharge,
ICMR-NIMR, Field Unit, Guwahati
Title of the project (VB): Malaria Vector Bionomics And Transmission Patterns In Areas With Ecotype Changes With Special Reference To Re-Estableblished Vector Species, An Culicifacies In Assam And Tripura
Summary:
North-eastern region of India region shows a high diversity of anophelines in general, malaria vector species and their sibling species complexes in particular, and many of them occur sympatrically and exhibiting a high level of behavioural plasticity. Anopheles baimaii, Anopheles minimus, and Anopheles fluviatilis complexes are the principal malaria vectors which persistently support malaria transmission. The high diversity of malaria vector species, most of which exist as complexes comprising several cryptic species that vary in vectorial capacity leading to a diverse malaria epidemiology. Further, the ecological changes such as deforestation, development of irrigation channels and change in land use pattern have favoured appearance of An. culicifacies in NE India. An. culicifacies species A is observed to be an efficient vector besides species B considered to be a non-vector or poor vector. Additional investigations on distribution and bionomics of An. culicifacies including biting time and its susceptibility status to insecticide and to understand its current role in malaria transmission would be desirable in high malaria endemic pockets of Assam and Tripura. Thus, there is ample scope for further research on the existence of potential additional vector species and bionomics studies for species sanitation.
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