African Entomology (2005) 13, 25-34

H.T. Masendu, R.H. Hunt, L.L. Koekemoer, B.D. Brooke, J. Govere and M. Coetzee (2005)
Spatial and temporal distributions and insecticide susceptibility of malaria vectors in Zimbabwe
African Entomology 13 (1), 25-34
Abstract: The malaria vector situation in Zimbabwe has not been systematically analysed since the introduction of national malaria control activities in 1947. We conducted a national survey on the spatial and temporal distribution and susceptibility to insecticides of malaria vectors. Members of the Anopheles gambiae complex constitute the primary vectors of malaria in Zimbabwe. Four members of the complex were found in various combinations of sympatry, including An. gambiae s.s. Giles, An. arabiensis Patton, An. merus Danitz and An. quadriannulatus Theobald (species A). The wide distribution of An. arabiensis, often in association with the non-vector An. quadriannulatus, confirmed its status as the principal vector. The patchily distributed species, An. merus, was implicated in malaria transmission at Masakadza, Gokwe District. Anopheles gambiae s.s. was found in the Zambezi Valley area of Kanyemba, while An. funestus Giles was detected at Humani Ranch, Chiredzi District, in the southeast lowveld of Zimbabwe. The scarcity of previously abundant vector species is attributed to insecticide spray programmes that commenced in the 1980s. DDT resistance was detected in An. arabiensis collected from market gardens in Gokwe suggesting that agrochemicals used on crops may have induced the resistance. Tests in other areas indicated continued susceptibility of the An. gambiae complex to all four classes of insecticides available for public health purposes. Up to date information on species distributions is essential for implementing effective control strategies and for managing insecticide resistance in vectors of malaria.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Basil D. Brooke, Lizette L. Koekemoer, Maureen Coetzee, John Govere

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
surveys/sampling/distribution
pesticide resistance of pest

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Anopheles gambiae		Zimbabwe
	Anopheles arabiensis		Zimbabwe
	Anopheles merus		Zimbabwe
	Anopheles quadriannulatus		Zimbabwe
	Anopheles funestus		Zimbabwe