title: Potential vectors of malaria and their different susceptibility to Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax in northern Brazil identified by immunoassay.
abstract: During the period from May 1983 to July 1985 we conducted an epidemiological study to determine potential vectors of malaria in 6 districts in the state of Pará in northern Brazil. The examination of random human blood smears, prepared at the time of mosquito capture, indicated overall human infection rates of 16.7% and 10.9% for Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax, respectively. Two immunoassays, the immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), based on the use of species-specific antisporozoite monoclonal antibodies, were used to analyze a total of 9,040 field-collected Anopheles mosquitoes for plasmodial infection. P. falciparum sporozoite antigen was detected in A. darlingi at rates varying from 2.7% to 4.2%, and in small numbers of A. oswaldoi collected in 1 of the districts. In contrast, sporozoite antigen of P. vivax was found in A. darlingi, A. triannulatus, A. nuneztovari, and A. albitarsis at rates ranging from 0.9% to 12.0%. By dissection, sporozoites were found in the salivary glands of these same 4 species at rates ranging from 0.8% to 2.2%. The latter 3 species had not previously been implicated as malaria vectors of any significance in northern Brazil.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000469:parasitology*; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D001938:Brazil; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology*; D008288:Malaria / Q000635:transmission*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan