Plasmodium falciparum infection rates in malaria vectors at two ecologically district sites in Kilifi Districts; Kenya

ABSTRACT

Transmission of Plasmodium falciparum was studied for one year at two ecologically different sites in Kilifi district. Anopheline mosquitoes were collected by three sampling methods and tested for P.falciparum sporozoites by ELISA. Anopheles gambiae s.l. was the predominant vector. Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite rates were 4.07 (20/491) and 2.17 (3/138) for An.gambiae s.l. at Sokoke and Kilifi town respectively. No sporozoite infections were detected in An.funestus or An.coustani. Transmission was year-round with highest levels occurring after the long rains (June to September). Entomological inoculation rates indicated taht each person could receive 8 infcetive bites per year at Sokoke; compared with 1.3 infective bites per year at Kilifi town. Our studies indicate taht the public health problem of malaria in Kilifi district is associated with extremely low levels of P.falciparum transmission by vector populations