Medicine and Health

Plasmodium falciparum infection in humans and mosquitoes influence natural Anopheline biting behavior and transmission

C. F. Markwalter, Z. Lapp, et al.

In a groundbreaking study conducted by Christine F. Markwalter and colleagues, researchers in western Kenya have revealed striking disparities in mosquito biting behavior. School-age boys are disproportionately affected, significantly contributing to the transmission of Plasmodium falciparum. This research underscores the critical interplay between human and mosquito factors in malaria spread, offering new insights into controlling this enduring public health challenge.

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Abstract

This study investigated mosquito biting behavior and human-to-mosquito transmission of Plasmodium falciparum in western Kenya. Using a 15-month cohort and molecular techniques, researchers found that biting was highly unequal, with school-age boys (5-15 years) disproportionately bitten and contributing to onward transmission. Infected mosquitoes were more likely to bite infected individuals. These findings highlight the importance of considering human and mosquito factors in malaria transmission.

Publisher

Nature Communications

Published On

May 30, 2024

Authors

Christine F. Markwalter, Zena Lapp, Lucy Abel, Emmah Kimachas, Evans Omollo, Elizabeth Freedman, Tabitha Chepkony, Mark Amunga, Tyler McCormick, Sophie Bérubé, Judith N. Mangeni, Amy Wesolowski, Andrew A. Obala, Steve M. Taylor, Wendy Prudhomme O'Meara

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