Vectors and malaria transmission in deforested, rural communities in north-central Vietnam.

Background: Malaria is still prevalent in rural communities of central Vietnam even though, due to deforestation, the primary vector Anopheles dirus is uncommon. In these situations little is known about the secondary vectors which are responsible for maintaining transmission. Basic information on the identification of the species in these rural communities is required so that transmission parameters, such as ecology, behaviour and vectorial status can be assigned to the appropriate species.

Identification of Anopheles minimus complex and related species in Vietnam.

Anopheles minimus A and C and several closely related species of mosquitoes have been identified in Vietnam, where some have been implicated in malaria transmission. Morphological variation within and between Anopheles minimus A and C makes identification using alpha taxonomy difficult and several molecular techniques have been developed to separate them. However the difficulties of applying these techniques and the benefits of morphological identification in the field have seen morphological characteristics, such as the humeral pale spot on the costa, being used to separate these two species.