title: Distribution summaries of malaria vectors in the northern Brazilian Amazon.
abstract: Knowledge of vector distribution is important for the design of effective local malaria control programs. Here we apply ecological niche modeling to analyze and predict the distributions of malaria vectors based on entomological collection points in the State of Roraima in the northern Brazilian Amazon Basin. Anopheline collections were conducted from 1999 to 2003 at 76 localities, all with active malaria transmission. A total of 13 anopheline species was identified from 17,074 adult females collected: Anopheles darlingi, An. albitarsis s.l., An. nuneztovari, An. triannulatus s.l., An. braziliensis, An. peryassui, An. oswaldoi s.l., An. mattogrossensis, An. strodei, An. evansae, An. squamifemur, An. mediopunctatus s.l, An. intermedius. Anopheles darlingi, and An. albitarsis were the most frequently found species. An. squamifemur was found for the first time in Roraima. A distributional prediction model (genetic algorithm for rule-set prediction-GARP) and environmental variables were used to predicted potential distribution range for six anopheline species that occurred at > or = 19 collection points. The method allows for the application of moderate sample sizes to produce distribution maps of vector species that could be used to maximize efficiency of surveys and optimize use of economic resources in epidemiology and control.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Zoologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Fábio Saito Monteiro
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: de Barros
authors.forename: Ducinéia Barros
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: de Aguiar
authors.forename: Maria Goreti
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Rosa-Freitas
authors.forename: José Francisco
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Luitgards-Moura
authors.forename: Helen da Costa
authors.initials: Hda C
authors.lastname: Gurgel
authors.forename: Nildimar Alves
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Honório
authors.forename: Mércia Eliane
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: de Arruda
authors.forename: Pantelis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tsouris
authors.forename: Simão Dias
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Vasconcelos
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D007303:Insect Vectors; D008288:Malaria / Q000635:transmission*