title: Behavioral patterns, parity rate and natural infection analysis in anopheline species involved in the transmission of malaria in the northeastern Brazilian Amazon region.
abstract: The characterization of behavioral patterns allows a better understanding of the transmission dynamics and the design of more effective malaria vector control strategies. This study analyzed the behavioral patterns of the Anopheles species of the Coração district situated in the northeast of the Brazilian Amazon region. The behavioral patterns of the anopheline species were measured based on the 36 collection sites of this district from December 2010 to November 2011. Collections of four hours for three consecutive nights each month and four 12-h collections, comprising two in the rainy season and two in the dry season, were performed. Furthermore, to infer the anthropophily and zoophily indexes, four additional four-hour collections were performed. The samples were also evaluated for parity rate and natural infectivity for Plasmodium spp. A total of 1689 anophelines were captured, comprising of nine species and two subgenera (Nyssorhynchus - six species, and Anopheles - three species). Anopheles darlingi was the most abundant and widely distributed species in the area, followed by A. braziliensis and A.marajoara. Anopheles darlingi and A. marajoara were the only species present in the four collections of 12-h, but only A. darlingi showed activity throughout night. Anopheles darlingi was the most anthropophilic species (AI=0.40), but the zoophily index was higher (ZI=0.60), revealing an eclectic and opportunistic behavior. Of the six most frequent species, A. nuneztovari s.l. was the most zoophilic species (ZI=1.00). All captured species showed predominance towards biting in outdoor environments. Anopheles darlingi and A. braziliensis showed multimodal biting peaks, whereas A. marajoara revealed a stable pattern, with the biting peak after sunset. Using the PCR technique, no anopheline was found infected with the malaria parasite. Since A. darlingi and A. marajoara are recognized as important vectors in this region, the district of Coração may be considered as a highly potent area for transmission of malaria, therefore, the prevention and surveillance measures should be taken constantly to prevent the same. The role of A. braziliensis as malaria vector needs to be urgently investigated.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Arthropoda, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Amapá, Rodovia Juscelino Kubitschek, km 02, Jardim Marco Zero, CEP 68.903-419 Macapá, Amapá, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ledayane Mayana Costa
authors.initials: LMC
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Arthropoda, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Amapá, Rodovia Juscelino Kubitschek, km 02, Jardim Marco Zero, CEP 68.903-419 Macapá, Amapá, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raimundo Nonato Picanço
authors.initials: RNP
authors.lastname: Souto
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Arthropoda, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Amapá, Rodovia Juscelino Kubitschek, km 02, Jardim Marco Zero, CEP 68.903-419 Macapá, Amapá, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo Marcelo
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Dos Anjos Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Genética de Populações e Evolução de Mosquitos Vetores de Malária e Dengue, Coordenação de Biodiversidade, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Avenida André Araujo, n° 2936, Bairro Aleixo, CEP 69.067-375 Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. Electronic address: vera@inpa.gov.br.
authors.forename: Vera Margarete
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Scarpassa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology*; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D010053:Ovary / Q000254:growth & development; D010058:Oviposition / Q000502:physiology*; D010298:Parity; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000502:physiology; D011891:Rain; D012621:Seasons; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D013045:Species Specificity
keywords: Anopheles species; Brazilian Amazon region; Malaria; Transmission dynamic