Anopheles cinereus implicated as a vector of malaria transmission in the highlands of north-west Ethiopia.

Background: Transmission of malaria in the highlands of Ethiopia is poorly understood and usually attributed to importation by mobile populations or local transmission by Anopheles arabiensis. To characterize and identify Anopheles species present in a highland area of northern Ethiopia, adult and larval collections were performed in Gondar town and the neighboring Senbet Debir village (Dembia district, > 2000 meters above sea level, masl), in addition to Bahir Dar town (capital of Amhara region) and Kumer Aftit village (Metema district, < 2000 masl).

Methods: CDC-light traps were used to collect adult mosquitoes and larval collections were performed from rain pools for rearing into adults for species identification.