title: Study of the malariogenic potential of Eastern Spain.
abstract: Recent autochtonous malaria cases which occurred in Spain, France, Greece or   Italy have shown the need to delve into the knowledge of potential influence of tropical   diseases in Southern Europe. The malariogenic potential of a formerly endemic area of Spain   was analyzed in present manuscript according to the epidemiological parameters of receptivity,   infectivity and vulnerability. During a five years period (2005-2009) comprehensive larval   surveys of anophelines and continuous analysis of imported malaria cases were conducted in   a study region of about 23 260 km². The next seven potential malaria vectors were collected:   Anopheles algeriensis, Anopheles atroparvus, Anopheles claviger, Anopheles maculipennis,   Anopheles marteri, Anopheles petragnani and Anopheles plumbeus. The entomological results   conclude that malaria receptivity is still high in different rural and hinterland regions where   it is possible to find high densities of An. atroparvus. Moreover An. algeriensis was also   commonly found breeding in irrigation channels surrounding urban areas. Although receptivity   is relevant in much of the study area, fortunately the vulnerability of the territory is very low.   In conclusion, despite our data together with current socio-economic and sanitary conditions   of Spain indicate a relatively low malariogenic potential, we must maintain the entomological   and epidemiological vigilance in order to prevent the potential appearance of indigenous   malaria cases. Therefore, the present Spanish situation can be described as what malariologists   of the first half of the last century would have called "anophelism without malaria."
authors.affiliation: Entomology and Pest Control Laboratory, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology (ICBiBE), University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain. ruben.bueno@uv.es
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bueno-Marí
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Peydró
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development*; D004199:Disease Vectors; D005260:Female; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology