Malaria vectors in the Brazilian Amazon: Anopheles of the subgenus Nyssorhynchus

Authors

  • Wanderli Pedro TADEI Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia
  • Bedsy DUTARY THATCHER Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia

Keywords:

Malaria vect, Anophe, Plasmod, Ama

Abstract

Various species of Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) were studied in the Amazon with the objective of determining their importance as malaria vectors. Of the 33 known Anopheles species occurring in the Amazon, only 9 were found to be infected with Plasmodium. The different species of this subgenus varied both in diversity and density in the collection areas. The populations showed a tendency towards lower density and diversity in virgin forest than in areas modified by human intervention. The principal vector, An. darlingi, is anthropophilic with a continuous activity cycle lasting the entire night but peaking at sunset and sunrise. These species (Nyssorhynchus) are peridomiciliary, entering houses to feed on blood and immediately leaving to settle on nearby vegetation. Anopheles nuneztovari proved to be zoophilic, crepuscular and peridomiciliary. These habits may change depending on a series of external factors, especially those related to human activity. There is a possibility that sibling species exist in the study area and they are being studied with reference to An. darlingi, An. albitarsis and An. nuneztovari. The present results do not suggest the existence of subpopulations of An. darlingi in the Brazilian Amazon.

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Published

2000-04-01

Issue

Section

Malaria

How to Cite

TADEI, W. P., & DUTARY THATCHER, B. (2000). Malaria vectors in the Brazilian Amazon: Anopheles of the subgenus Nyssorhynchus . Revista Do Instituto De Medicina Tropical De São Paulo, 42(2), 87-94. https://revistas.usp.br/rimtsp/article/view/30414