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Current status of Plasmodium knowlesi vectors: a public health concern?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 May 2016

I. VYTHILINGAM ,
M. L. WONG  and
W. S. WAN-YUSSOF
I. VYTHILINGAM*
Affiliation:
Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
M. L. WONG
Affiliation:
Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
W. S. WAN-YUSSOF
Affiliation:
Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
*
*Corresponding author: Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. E-mail: [email protected]
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Summary

Plasmodium knowlesi a simian malaria parasite is currently affecting humans in Southeast Asia. Malaysia has reported the most number of cases and P. knowlesi is the predominant species occurring in humans. The vectors of P. knowlesi belong to the Leucosphyrus group of Anopheles mosquitoes. These are generally described as forest-dwelling mosquitoes. With deforestation and changes in land-use, some species have become predominant in farms and villages. However, knowledge on the distribution of these vectors in the country is sparse. From a public health point of view it is important to know the vectors, so that risk factors towards knowlesi malaria can be identified and control measures instituted where possible. Here, we review what is known about the knowlesi malaria vectors and ascertain the gaps in knowledge, so that future studies could concentrate on this paucity of data in-order to address this zoonotic problem.

Keywords

malariavectorsforestzoonosisAnophelesPlasmodium knowlesi
Type
Special Issue Review
Information
Parasitology , Volume 145 , Special Issue 1: Plasmodium knowlesi , January 2018 , pp. 32 - 40
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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