Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan.
Department of Pathobiology (Parasitology Section), KBCMA College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Narowal, Sub-Campus, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Lahore, Pakistan.
Sci Rep. 2024 Apr 30;14(1):9871. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-60662-x.
The Plasmodium is responsible for malaria which poses a major health threat, globally. This study is based on the estimation of the relative abundance of mosquitoes, and finding out the correlations of meteorological parameters (temperature, humidity and rainfall) with the abundance of mosquitoes. In addition, this study also focused on the use of nested PCR (species-specific nucleotide sequences of 18S rRNA genes) to explore the Plasmodium spp. in female Anopheles. In the current study, the percentage relative abundance of Culex mosquitoes was 57.65% and Anopheles 42.34% among the study areas. In addition, the highest number of mosquitoes was found in March in district Mandi Bahauddin at 21 °C (T = 27, T = 15) average temperature, 69% average relative humidity and 131 mm rainfall, and these climatic factors were found to affect the abundance of the mosquitoes, directly or indirectly. Molecular analysis showed that overall, 41.3% of the female Anopheles pools were positive for genus Plasmodium. Among species, the prevalence of Plasmodium (P.) vivax (78.1%) was significantly higher than P. falciparum (21.9%). This study will be helpful in the estimation of future risk of mosquito-borne diseases along with population dynamic of mosquitoes to enhance the effectiveness of vector surveillance and control programs.
疟原虫是疟疾的病原体，对全球健康构成重大威胁。本研究基于对蚊子相对丰度的估计，并发现气象参数（温度、湿度和降雨量）与蚊子丰度的相关性。此外，本研究还侧重于使用巢式 PCR（18S rRNA 基因的种特异性核苷酸序列）来探索雌性按蚊中的疟原虫。在本研究中，在所研究的地区中，库蚊的相对丰度百分比为 57.65%，按蚊为 42.34%。此外，在曼迪巴哈丁地区，3 月份的蚊子数量最多，平均温度为 21°C（T=27，T=15），平均相对湿度为 69%，降雨量为 131 毫米，这些气候因素被发现直接或间接地影响蚊子的丰度。分子分析显示，总体而言，41.3%的雌性按蚊池对疟原虫属呈阳性。在种属中，间日疟原虫（P. vivax）（78.1%）的流行率明显高于恶性疟原虫（P. falciparum）（21.9%）。本研究将有助于估计未来蚊媒疾病的风险以及蚊子的种群动态，从而提高病媒监测和控制计划的效果。
