Potential vectors of malaria and their different susceptibility to Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax in northern Brazil identified by immunoassay

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1986 Sep;35(5):873-81. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1986.35.873.

Abstract

During the period from May 1983 to July 1985 we conducted an epidemiological study to determine potential vectors of malaria in 6 districts in the state of Pará in northern Brazil. The examination of random human blood smears, prepared at the time of mosquito capture, indicated overall human infection rates of 16.7% and 10.9% for Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax, respectively. Two immunoassays, the immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), based on the use of species-specific antisporozoite monoclonal antibodies, were used to analyze a total of 9,040 field-collected Anopheles mosquitoes for plasmodial infection. P. falciparum sporozoite antigen was detected in A. darlingi at rates varying from 2.7% to 4.2%, and in small numbers of A. oswaldoi collected in 1 of the districts. In contrast, sporozoite antigen of P. vivax was found in A. darlingi, A. triannulatus, A. nuneztovari, and A. albitarsis at rates ranging from 0.9% to 12.0%. By dissection, sporozoites were found in the salivary glands of these same 4 species at rates ranging from 0.8% to 2.2%. The latter 3 species had not previously been implicated as malaria vectors of any significance in northern Brazil.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anopheles / parasitology*
  • Antigens, Protozoan / analysis
  • Brazil
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Humans
  • Insect Vectors / parasitology*
  • Malaria / transmission*
  • Plasmodium falciparum / growth & development
  • Plasmodium falciparum / immunology
  • Plasmodium falciparum / isolation & purification*
  • Plasmodium vivax / growth & development
  • Plasmodium vivax / immunology
  • Plasmodium vivax / isolation & purification*
  • Radioimmunoassay

Substances

  • Antigens, Protozoan