title: Population dynamics of malaria vectors in western Kenya highlands.
abstract: Studies were carried out at three sites in the highlands of western Kenya (Iguhu and Mbale in Kakamega and Vihiga districts, respectively, and Marani in Kisii district) and at one site in the western Kenya lowlands (Kombewa in Kisumu district) to determine the spatial-temporal dynamics of malaria vectors and intensity of malaria transmission from June 2003 to June 2004. At the highland sites, Anopheles gambiae Giles predominated, constituting >80% of the vector species, whereas An. funestus Giles made up <20%. In contrast, at the lowland site, An. funestus made up 68% of the vector species. The mean annual indoor resting densities of An. gambiae at Iguhu were 5.0 female mosquitoes per house per night, 14.2- and 26.3-fold greater than those at Mbale and Marani. During the main transmission season, the indoor resting densities of An. gambiae increased 4.1-, 10.1-, and 5.0-fold over the dry season period in Iguhu, Mbale, and Marani, respectively. The estimated annual entomological inoculation rate (EIR) at Iguhu was 16.6 infectious bites per person per year (ib/p/yr), 1.1 at Mbale, and 0.4 at Marani. This suggests high spatial variation in vector abundance and malaria transmission intensity. At the lowland site, Kombewa, the total annual EIR was 31.1 ib/p/yr and the indoor resting densities during the transmission season increased 7.1-fold in An. funestus and 18.5-fold in An. gambiae sensu lato over the dry season. The low level of transmission in the highlands suggests that it may be disrupted by vector control methods such as residual spraying.
authors.affiliation: Climate and Human Health Research Unit, Centre for Vector Biology and Control Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya.
authors.forename: Bryson
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ndenga
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Githeko
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Omukunda
authors.forename: Godwil
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Munyekenye
authors.forename: Harrysonne
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Atieli
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wamai
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mbogo
authors.forename: Noboru
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Minakawa
authors.forename: Goufa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Guiyun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology*; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology*; D007630:Kenya; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000635:transmission; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000276:immunology; D011156:Population Density; D011157:Population Dynamics; D015995:Prevalence; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012621:Seasons; D034101:Sporozoites / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C041595:circumsporozoite protein, Protozoan