Review
Kerteszia subgenus of Anopheles associated with the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest:current knowledge and future challenges
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* Corresponding author: Mauro T Marrelli mmarelli@usp.br
1 Departamento de Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo 715, São Paulo-SP, 01246-904, Brazil
2 Laboratório de Protozoologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 470, São Paulo-SP, 05403-000, Brazil
3 Departamento de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo, 455, São Paulo-SP, 05403-000, Brazil
Malaria Journal 2007, 6:127 doi:10.1186/1475-2875-6-127
Published: 19 September 2007Abstract
Background
The Atlantic rainforest ecosystem, where bromeliads are abundant, provides an excellent environment for Kerteszia species, because these anophelines use the axils of those plants as larval habitat. Anopheles (K.) cruzii and Anopheles (K.) bellator are considered the primary vectors of malaria in the Atlantic forest. Although the incidence of malaria has declined in some areas of the Atlantic forest, autochthonous cases are still registered every year, with Anopheles cruzii being considered to be a primary vector of both human and simian Plasmodium.
Methods
Recent publications that addressed ecological aspects that are important for understanding the involvement of Kerteszia species in the epidemiology of malaria in the Atlantic rainforest in the Neotropical Region were analysed.
Conclusion
The current state of knowledge about Kerteszia species in relation to the Atlantic rainforest ecosystem was discussed. Emphasis was placed on ecological characteristics related to epidemiological aspects of this group of mosquitoes. The main objective was to investigate biological aspects of the species that should be given priority in future studies.