State of the Anopheles mosquito populations following cessation of mosquito control measures on the territory of the Soviet Union
Bandin, A.I.
Meditsinskaia Parazitologiia i Parazitarnye Bolezni 41(1): 3-7
1972
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-8326 PMID: 5031868 Document Number: 53225
After termination of control measures against species of Anopheles in the Soviet Union after eradication of malaria, an increase in the population of these species and the existence of sources of infection created a risk of reappearance of the disease. In consequence, it became necessary to develop means of prophylaxis against malaria and control measures for mosquitos. More than 150 entomologists and parasitologists have been recruited since 1965 to carry out this work. The results so far obtained have indicated that the rate at which populations of species and subspecies of Anopheles have reestablished themselves has varied from place to place. This is attributed to difference in the size of the residual population at the time the control measures ceased, difference in the size of breeding places, the endophilic or exophilic habits of the species concerned, and the local effects of industrial activity. The last-mentioned has a profound effect on areas of distribution and abundance of mosquitos, and consequently, on the epidemiological risk. The data that have been assembled have enabled villages, districts and ecological types to be classified according to the risk of their harbouring malarial foci if the causative agent were introduced, the scope and location of anti-malarial measures to be defined, and plans to be formulated for permanent eradication of any outbreaks. It is suggested that the monitoring of changes in the development of mosquito populations should form an integral part of the regular duties of medical entomologists.