Anopheles gambiae, malaria

Many hunters react to their prey s overall scent or some of its components, perhaps the smell of fur or some less complex odor. One of the world s most injurious insects, the African malaria mosquito (Anopheles gambiae), prefers humans to other sources of a blood meal. Oddly, whenever possible the mosquitoes bite people on their feet. This predilection reflects their strong attraction to the mixture of fatty acids that we associate with smelly feet. Humans may find the odor offensive, but these mosquitoes know it as a fragrant guide to blood. The same fatty acids also draw them to another odor that offends some people, the smell of Limburger cheese. 

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Malaria is a serious disease whose progression may lead to death. Its symptoms of high fever, chills, weakened joints, and flu-like illness are however well recognised by people in malaria endemic areas such as Kenya. Illness and death from malaria are largely preventable. Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites which are transmitted by mosquito vector. The most common parasite in Kenya, which is also the most virulent, is Plasmodium falciparum-, the others are P. vivax, P. ovale and P. malariae. The main mosquito vector in Africa and which, unfortunately, is also the most efficient is Anopheles gambiae. 

The extracts also showed useful effects at lower concentrations. It was observed that 20-40% of the larvae treated with the low concentration of the extract successfully pupated but often died before emerging into adults. This is no disadvantage for malaria control programmes since it is the adult Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes that are the prime vectors of the disease. 

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