Abstract
A global map of dominant malaria vectors
Sinka, M. E.
Bangs, M. J.
Manguin, S.
Rubio-Palis, Y.
Chareonviriyaphap, T.
Coetzee, M.
Mbogo, C. M.
Hemingway, J.
Patil, A. P.
Temperley, W. H.
Gething, P. W.
Kabaria, C. W.
Burkot, T. R.
Harbach, R. E.
Hay, S. I.
Parasit Vectors. 2012; 569
Permanent descriptor
https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-5-69BACKGROUND: Global maps, in particular those based on vector distributions, have long been used to help visualise the global extent of malaria. Few, however, have been created with the support of a comprehensive and extensive evidence-based approach. METHODS: Here we describe the generation of a global map of the dominant vector species (DVS) of malaria that makes use of predicted distribution maps for individual species or species complexes. RESULTS: Our global map highlights the spatial variability in the complexity of the vector situation. In Africa, An. gambiae, An. arabiensis and An. funestus are co-dominant across much of the continent, whereas in the Asian-Pacific region there is a highly complex situation with multi-species coexistence and variable species dominance. CONCLUSIONS: The competence of the mapping methodology to accurately portray DVS distributions is discussed. The comprehensive and contemporary database of species-specific spatial occurrence (currently available on request) will be made directly available via the Malaria Atlas Project (MAP) website from early 2012.
