Biting times of Plasmodium falciparum infected mosquitoes and transmission intensities following five years of insecticide-Treated bed nets use in Kamuli District, Uganda: Implications for malaria control

摘要

This study determined the biting times of malaria vectors and transmission intensities following fiveyears use of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) in Kamuli district, Uganda. A Plasmodium falciparumcircum-sporozoite protein ELISA was performed on 551 and 1640 Anopheles mosquitoes caught atdifferent hours of the night in ITNs intervention and non-intervention zones, respectively. The sporozoitepositivity of the vectors was related to the time of biting humans, while the annual entomologicalinoculation rates (AEIRs) were obtained by multiplying the average annual human biting rate by thesporozoite rate. Infective biting by the vectors occurred throughout the night, while peak infective bitesoccurred after 22:00 hours in both zones. The annual malaria transmission potential was higher in areasnon-intervened with ITNs. ITNs were therefore effective against malaria vectors and should be widelypromoted in this area. Other protective interventions when people are not in bed are recommended.