Malaria vectors composition, abundance and prevalence of malaria in potentially high endemic area of Morogoro rural District, Eastern Tanzania
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Date
2020
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Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
This dissertation was prepared based on “publishable manuscripts” format of the Sokoine
University of Agriculture. The dissertation discusses the composition and seasonal
abundance of malaria vector species and disease prevalence in potentially high endemic
foci in Morogoro region. Well targeted efforts that embrace area-specific situations, at
least in high malaria endemic foci, are needed to preserve realized health gains and
achieve elimination. This is because malaria is increasingly characterized by temporal
variability that bestows evolving and new challenges for malaria control programs.
Morogoro region, eastern Tanzania is a typical reflection of such phenomenon because of
its appreciable fine-scale variability in ecology and topography. Therefore, it is likely that
we are missing certain salient foci with unprecedented malaria transmission intensity. It
was therefore critical to have up-to-date information on the species composition and
abundance of malaria vectors; and disease prevalence in order to design and/or implement
appropriate surveillance and control strategies. Mkuyuni and Kiroka, adjacent wards
within Rural Morogoro District, are purported to form such foci and were therefore the
focus of this study. The determination of malaria vector species composition and seasonal
abundance was achieved through a repeated cross-sectional survey conducted during the
wet and dry season. It involved collection of adult mosquitoes inside 10 randomly
selected households and adjacent outdoor points using CDC light traps. This was
accompanied by the assessment of environmental risk factors which could be potentiating
malaria transmission risk. The prevalence of malaria in the study area was determined
through a retrospective analysis of six-year (2014 - 2019) data on malaria cases. This
study indicated that malaria vector population in study areas is largely composed of An.
gambiae s.l followed by An. funestus s.l.; and their abundance is equally concerning
across seasons. The study also revealed high malaria intensity in the study areas, with
prevalence rate as high as ~61%. The mosquito species composition and equally
concerning seasonal abundance all year round along with risk factors like open eaves,
proximity to rice fields and low usage of bed nets could be among the factors that
underline high malaria transmission in the study areas. These preliminary findings
warrant more comprehensive longitudinal study in these and other high endemic foci in
Tanzania in order to inform future course of action in terms of disease surveillance and
control.
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Keywords
Malaria, Mosquito composition, Endemic disease, Morogoro