Scientist F (Deputy Director-Senior grade),
ICMR-RMRC, NE Region, Dibrugarh
Title of the project (VB): Studies on the prevalence, distribution and biology of An. culicifacies in relation to malaria transmission and control in three states of North-east India.
Summary:
The main strategy for control of malaria vectors in India is vector control with the use of insecticides. At present, according to WHO-PQVC, WHO recommends 12 insecticides as active ingredients for use as indoor residual spray (IRS) and for impregnation of long-lasting insecticide nets (LLINs). Though, in 1950s, IRS with DDT was found remarkably effective for control of vector mosquitoes but An. culicifacies became the first mosquito species to develop resistance against this insecticide. Malathion and deltamethrin were introduced in the IRS to manage An. culicifacies as end point replacements that resulted in development of multiple resistances. This has resulted in a serious setback to the success of the National Malaria Control Program in India. Further An. culicifacies comprises of five sibling species and each respond differently to insecticides and has different transmission potential making its control more complicated. Failure in the control of An. culicifacies was responsible for resurgence of malaria in late 1970s in India and adjoining countries of South Asia.
However, it is worth noting that the primary vectors of malaria in NE India are different from that of mainland India. An. baimaii and An. minimus are the 2 primary vectors in this region; in contrast to An. culicifacies , An. stephensi, An. fluviatilis and An. sundaicus in mainland India. But a recent publication generated from a limited study reporting 7 surveys conducted in three years in 4 states of NE India suggests that due to several ecological factors (mainly man made) An. culicifacies is replacing An. minimus as primary vector in NE region. As data regarding this species in NE is scanty, the proposed project will generate data regarding the establishment of the species in this region, it will also provide scope to study the vector bionomics of this species and will warrant if any modification in the ongoing vector control strategies are needed.
Thus, the current study is proposed to ascertain the prevalence and biology of An. culicifacies in NE states. This study also gains importance at this stage, if An. culicifacies gets established as a primary vector in this region, there will be a need for a defined strategy for control of this species as the existing strategy is specific for the prevalent vectors whose role in transmission of malaria in NE states remains established.
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