Ecology: a prerequisite for malaria elimination and eradication

Abstract

Gerry Killeen and colleagues argue that malaria eradication efforts will not be successful until a better understanding of the ecology and evolution of the mosquito vectors is gained.

Figure 1. Life cycle components of malaria vector mosquitoes and corresponding examples of targets for novel intervention strategies.

(1) Environmental management and larvicide application by direct means , or by autodissemination via adults ; (2) insecticide application to natural sugar sources , toxic sugar baits , and paratransgenic bacteria ; (3) pheromone trapping and release of genetically modified or sterile males ,; (4) spatial and contact repellents that work both indoors and outdoors and physical barriers to prevent mosquito entry into houses ; (5) zooprophylaxis , insecticide-treated cattle , and odour-baited traps ; (6) adult contamination with biological and chemical agents which may be autodisseminated; and (7) environmental management of water resources for adult vector control through increased mortality cost of foraging for oviposition sites .