Modified PCR-based assay for the differentiation of members of Anopheles fluviatilis complex in consequence of the discovery of a new cryptic species (species V).

Background: Anopheles fluviatilis is a species-complex comprising of four cryptic species provisionally designated as species S, T, U and V. Earlier, a 28S-rDNA based allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (ASPCR) assay was developed for the differentiation of the then known three members of the An. fluviatilis complex, i.

Biology and bionomics of malaria vectors in India: existing information and what more needs to be known for strategizing elimination of malaria.

India has committed to eliminate malaria by 2030. The national framework for malaria elimination released by the Government of India plans to achieve this goal through strategic planning in a phased manner. Since vector control is a major component of disease management and vector elimination, it requires a thorough understanding of the biology and bionomics of malaria vectors exhibiting definite distribution patterns in diverse ecosystems in the country.

Entomological determinants of malaria transmission in an epidemic prone area of District Nuh (Haryana state), India.

Background & Objectives: Entomological investigations were carried out in highly malarious villages under Ujina PHC of District Nuh (Haryana state) which is an epidemic prone area in northwestern region of India. The study was aimed to have an in-depth understanding of the entomological parameters influencing malaria transmission in the study area.

Methods: The seasonal prevalence and biological attributes of vector mosquitoes were investigated during 2015 and 2016.

Comparative assessment on the prevalence of mutations in the Plasmodium falciparum drug-resistant genes in two different ecotypes of Odisha state, India.

Considering malaria as a local and focal disease, epidemiological understanding of different ecotypes of malaria can help in devising novel control measures. One of the major hurdles in malaria control lies on the evolution and dispersal of the drug-resistant malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. We herewith present data on genetic variation at the Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) level in four different genes of P.

Malaria transmission in Tripura: Disease distribution & determinants.

Background & Objectives: Malaria is a major public health problem in Tripura and focal disease outbreaks are of frequent occurrence. The state is co-endemic for both Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax and transmission is perennial and persistent.

Relative Abundance and Plasmodium Infection Rates of Malaria Vectors in and around Jabalpur, a Malaria Endemic Region in Madhya Pradesh State, Central India.

Background: This study was undertaken in two Primary Health Centers (PHCs) of malaria endemic district Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh (Central India).

Methods: In this study we had investigated the relative frequencies of the different anopheline species collected within the study areas by using indoor resting catches, CDC light trap and human landing methods. Sibling species of malaria vectors were identified by cytogenetic and molecular techniques.

A review of malaria transmission dynamics in forest ecosystems.

Malaria continues to be a major health problem in more than 100 endemic countries located primarily in tropical and sub-tropical regions around the world. Malaria transmission is a dynamic process and involves many interlinked factors, from uncontrollable natural environmental conditions to man-made disturbances to nature. Almost half of the population at risk of malaria lives in forest areas.

Comparative susceptibilities of species T and U of the Anopheles fluviatilis complex to Plasmodium vinckei petteri sporogony.

Anopheles fluviatilis James is an important malaria vector in Indian subcontinent. An. fluviatilis exists as a complex of three sibling species, of which two species, T and U, have been colonized so far.

Analysis of population genetic structure of Indian Anopheles culicifacies species A using microsatellite markers.

Background: Anopheles culicifacies sensu lato is an important vector of malaria in Southeast Asia contributing to almost 70% of malaria cases in India. It exists as morphologically similar sibling species A, B, C, D and E with varied geographical distribution patterns. Vector control measures have been difficult for this important vector as the sibling species have developed varying levels of resistance to the currently used insecticides.

Population cytogenetic and molecular evidence for existence of a new species in Anopheles fluviatilis complex (Diptera: Culicidae).

Anopheles fluviatilis James, an important malaria vector in the Oriental region has been established as a complex of at least three cryptic species which vary in their biological characteristics and malaria transmission potential. The sibling species S, T and U of Fluviatilis Complex can be identified by examination of species-specific fixed inversions in the polytene chromosomes and can also be differentiated by an allele-specific PCR assay based on differences in the D3 region of 28S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of these species. Here we report a new An.

Prevalence and incrimination of Anopheles fluviatilis species S (Diptera: Culicidae) in a malaria endemic forest area of Chhattisgarh state, central India.

Background: Chhattisgarh state in central India is highly endemic for malaria and contributes about 13% of annually reported malaria cases in the country with predominance of P. falciparum. Entomological investigations were carried out in a tribal forested area of district Bastar located in the southern part of Chhattisgarh state to record the prevalence of sibling species of Anopheles fluviatilis and An.

The complexities of malaria disease manifestations with a focus on asymptomatic malaria.

Malaria is a serious parasitic disease in the developing world, causing high morbidity and mortality. The pathogenesis of malaria is complex, and the clinical presentation of disease ranges from severe and complicated, to mild and uncomplicated, to asymptomatic malaria. Despite a wealth of studies on the clinical severity of disease, asymptomatic malaria infections are still poorly understood.

Malaria in India: the center for the study of complex malaria in India.

Malaria is a major public health problem in India and one which contributes significantly to the overall malaria burden in Southeast Asia. The National Vector Borne Disease Control Program of India reported ∼1.6 million cases and ∼1100 malaria deaths in 2009.

Parasite killing in malaria non-vector mosquito Anopheles culicifacies species B: implication of nitric oxide synthase upregulation.

Background: Anopheles culicifacies, the main vector of human malaria in rural India, is a complex of five sibling species. Despite being phylogenetically related, a naturally selected subgroup species B of this sibling species complex is found to be a poor vector of malaria. We have attempted to understand the differences between vector and non-vector Anopheles culicifacies mosquitoes in terms of transcriptionally activated nitric oxide synthase (AcNOS) physiologies to elucidate the mechanism of refractoriness.

Phylogenetic inference of Indian malaria vectors from multilocus DNA sequences.

Inferences on the taxonomic positions, phylogenetic interrelationships and divergence time among closely related species of medical importance is essential to understand evolutionary patterns among species, and based on which, disease control measures could be devised. To this respect, malaria is one of the important mosquito borne diseases of tropical and sub-tropical parts of the globe. Taxonomic status of malaria vectors has been so far documented based on morphological, cytological and few molecular genetic features.

Multiplex PCR assay and phylogenetic analysis of sequences derived from D2 domain of 28S rDNA distinguished members of the Anopheles culicifacies complex into two groups, A/D and B/C/E.

A multiplex PCR assay was developed using the sequences of the D2 region of 28S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) to discriminate the five members of the Anopheles culicifacies complex provisionally designated as species A, B, C, D and E. Two minus strand primers derived from sequence differences in the D2 variable region and a universal plus strand primer derived from the conserved 28S (rDNA) has delimited five members into species A and D (group 1) and species B, C and E (group 2) in a PCR diagnostic assay. The complete 28S rDNA-D2 region sequence of A.

Malaria persistence in Kumaon foothills of District Nainital, Uttarakhand, India.

Clinic data depicted a high incidence of malaria in a forest ecotype in the Kumaon foothills of District Nainital, Uttarakhand, India. A study was therefore conducted to determine the risk factors associated with the transmission of malaria from 2002 to 2004. The man-hour densities of Anopheles culicifacies and An.

Genetic structure of Plasmodium falciparum field isolates in eastern and north-eastern India.

Background: Molecular techniques have facilitated the studies on genetic diversity of Plasmodium species particularly from field isolates collected directly from patients. The msp-1 and msp-2 are highly polymorphic markers and the large allelic polymorphism has been reported in the block 2 of the msp-1 gene and the central repetitive domain (block3) of the msp-2 gene. Families differing in nucleotide sequences and in number of repetitive sequences (length variation) were used for genotyping purposes.

Identification of all members of the anopheles culicifacies complex using allele-specific polymerase chain reaction assays.

Anopheles culicifacies, a complex of five isomorphic sibling species, is a major vector of malaria in India and neighboring countries. The five species are provisionally designated as species A, B, C, D, and E. Polytene chromosome examination has been the only method available that differentiates four members of this complex in areas where species E is not prevalent.

Epidemiology of malaria transmission in forest and plain ecotype villages in Sundargarh District, Orissa, India.

A study of the epidemiology of malaria transmission was undertaken in 13 tribal villages located in forest and plain areas of Sundargarh District of Orissa state, India, from January 2001 to December 2003. In forest areas, intense transmission of malaria is attributed to the highly anthropophagic vector Anopheles fluviatilis sibling species S and is complemented by A. culicifacies sibling species C.

Isolation of a Plasmodium vivax refractory Anopheles culicifacies strain from India.

Anopheles culicifaciessensu lato comprises five sibling species. We report the isolation of an An. culicifacies species B strain which is completely refractory to Plasmodium vivax sporogonic development and partially refractory to P.

Morphotaxonomic studies to identify the members of the Anopheles subpictus Grassi (Diptera: Culicidae) species complex in riverine villages of District Sonepat, Haryana State, India.

Anopheles subpictus was reported to be a complex of four sibling species provisionally designated as species A, B, C and D. Present studies in District Sonepat, Haryana have revealed the sympatricity of species A, C and D based on the reported distinct morphotaxanomical identification characters in different life stages of the mosquito. Studies on field collected adult mosquitoes and isofemale progeny did not show variations in the prevalence of sibling species and also showed a possibility of use of a single reported morphological character in a given life stage for the identification of the members of this complex.

Comparative susceptibility of three important malaria vectors Anopheles stephensi, Anopheles fluviatilis, and Anopheles sundaicus to Plasmodium vivax.

The 3 laboratory-colonized malaria vectors, i.e., Anopheles stephensi, An.