Anopheles funestus

Normal routes of exposure Vectors (mosquitoes—Aedes vexans, Culex triteeniorhynchus, Anopheles funestus midges—Culicoides species). 

Normal Routes of Exposure Vectors (mosquitoes—Anopheles funestus, Anopheles gambiae). Infectious Dose Unknown. 

The life cycle of Plasmodium requires two vectors for completion. The definitive hosts are female mosquitoes from the genus Anopheles. Anophelesgambiae and Anopheles funestus are two such definitive hosts in the African Region, while Anopheles darlingi transmits malaria in South and Central America (6-8). The second host is a vertebrate that may be a bird, reptile, or small mammal. The malaria species listed above are all able to utilize humans as a vertebrate host. 

Female Anopheles gambiae at a blood meal (their male counterparts feed on plant nectar). Besides Anopheles funestus, this malaria vector belongs to the most prominent in Afrika. There are around 460 anopheline species. Many of them feed on blood from animals (zoophilic), e.g. birds, mice and cattle, some 30-40 of them (anthropophilic) prefer however human blood and thereby transfer malaria. 

Plant-derived materials have been used for centuries to repel biting arthropods, for example, by hanging bruised plant parts in houses, burning plant materials, or applying essential oils to the skin. Recently, outdoor plantations of repellent plants such as wild sage, neem, lemongrass, and West Indian lantana were studied for their effect on mosquito house entry in rural tropical areas. When Lantana camara was planted outdoors, up to 83% fewer Anopheles funestus were collected indoors compared to control houses. 

In a Kenyan study, Seyoum et al. used 10 potted Lantana plants hung close to the eaves of 4 houses over 24 nights, and also used CDC LT as a proxy for human exposure to host-seeking mosquitoes. The authors demonstrated a 27.22% (95% Cl 0.04-47.16) reduction in house entry of Anopheles gambiae s.l. (mainly Anopheles arabiensis) and no repellent efficacy against Anopheles funestus, contrary to the significant 83% reduction seen in Tanzania. The reason for this difference... 

T. W. Walker et al. Field evaluation of arthropod repellents, DEFT and a pijjeridine compound, AD-37220, against Anopheles funestus and Anopheles arabiensis in western Kenya. J Am Mosq Control... 

Permethrin-treated work wear for night shift workers. Insecticide-treated clothing prevented malaria by 70% OR = 0.31 (95% Cl not reported) in Kenya with Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles funestus, Anopheles arabiensis as the primary vectors... 

The disease is caused by parasitic single-cell protozoa—a plasmodium (such as P. vivax or P.,falciparum) carried by female Anopheles mosquitoes (such as A. atroparvus or A.funestus). Malaria is characterized by bone-wracking painful periodic fevers, followed by chills, and, in some people, death. 

G. Davidson, Experiments on the effect of residual insecticides in houses against Anopheles gambiae and A.funestus, Bulletin of Entomological Research, 44 (2), 231,1953. 

J. C. Beier. Frequent blood-feeding and restrictive sugar-feeding behavior enhance the malaria vector potential of Anopheles gambiae s.l. and A. funestus (Diptera Culicidae) in western Kenya. J Med Entomol, 33, 613, 1996. 

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