Ecotope-Based Entomological Surveillance and Molecular Xenomonitoring of Multidrug Resistant Malaria Parasites in Anopheles Vectors

Figure 1

Maps of forest and forest fringe ecotopes of malaria endemic provinces of Thailand. ((a1)-(a2)) Forest and forest fringe ecotopes of malaria endemic provinces, Kanchanaburi and Trat, accommodate the assemblage of main Anopheles vectors. Mapping-based areas (km²) of forests and forest fringes and water bodies are 7,247.97 and 622.87 for Kanchanaburi and 943.63 and 6.61 for Trat. Some subdistrict-level administrative areas of the provinces are shown for malaria transmission control; all of which establish diverse malaria ecotopes and ecotones through changes of land use and land cover patterns pertaining to human activities. Only the subdistrict used in the EES and for establishment of the malaria infection pocket is representative of each province. ((b)-(c)) In Huai Kayeng and Bo Phloi subdistricts, two different malaria infection pockets confined to the TCAs are established for the EES. During September-October 2011, the susceptible persons who developed indigenous malaria were all thought to acquire naturally the infection through bite(s) of potent Anopheles vectors that breed and/or forage close to the patients’ houses. Main drivers are human settlements and activities pertaining to agricultural intensification of the rubber plantations. Among the responsible anophelines, An. aconitus and An. dirus were found to carry MDR vivax malaria parasites during which a course of follow-up treatment of the notified P. vivax patients who received the first-line treatment was done. All topographic maps were performed using the ArcGis ver. 10.0 for the landscape layers of data sources (forest patches, water bodies, Anopheles vector assemblages, and administrative divisions), Global mapper ver. 11.0 for the elevation data, and the Google Earth for the topography.

(a)

(b) Huai Kayeng

(c) Bo Phloi