title: Seasonal and Spatial Dynamics of the Primary Vector of Plasmodium knowlesi within a Major Transmission Focus in Sabah, Malaysia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The simian malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi is emerging as a public health problem in Southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysian Borneo where it now accounts for the greatest burden of malaria cases and deaths. Control is hindered by limited understanding of the ecology of potential vector species.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We conducted a one year longitudinal study of P. knowlesi vectors in three sites within an endemic area of Sabah, Malaysia. All mosquitoes were captured using human landing catch. Anopheles mosquitoes were dissected to determine, oocyst, sporozoites and parous rate. Anopheles balabacensis is confirmed as the primary vector of. P. knowlesi (using nested PCR) in Sabah for the first time. Vector densities were significantly higher and more seasonally variable in the village than forest or small scale farming site. However An. balabacensis survival and P. knowlesi infection rates were highest in forest and small scale farm sites. Anopheles balabacensis mostly bites humans outdoors in the early evening between 1800 to 2000 hrs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates transmission is unlikely to be prevented by bednets. This combined with its high vectorial capacity poses a threat to malaria elimination programmes within the region.
authors.affiliation: Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Meng L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology and Medical Diagnostics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sabah Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Tock H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.affiliation: Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Cherng S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.affiliation: Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Loke T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Khaw
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fornace
authors.affiliation: Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Wan-Yusoff
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Wan-Sulaiman
authors.affiliation: Jesselton Medical Centre, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: William
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Drakeley
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Heather M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.affiliation: Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Indra
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vythilingam
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D065928:Forests; D007303:Insect Vectors; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D016790:Plasmodium knowlesi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011156:Population Density; D012621:Seasons; D062211:Spatio-Temporal Analysis