1.3. DISEASE TRANSMISSION ROLE OF MALARIA VECTORS AT TWO HIGHLY EN...

4.1.3.4. Disease transmission role of malaria vectors at two highly endemic sites of the Central Highlands The malaria transmission role of vector species may increase or decrease depending on many factors, including impact of environmental changes. The presence of two or several vector species in the same region increases the risk of malaria spread in that area, especially when the main vectors are simultaneously present. This can be obvious in some mountainous areas in Southeast Asia, including the Central-Highlands-Southeast region of Vietnam where exists both the main vectors An. minimus and An. dirus and several secondary vectors, causing many difficulties for malaria control Through ELISA analysis, the two main malaria vectors An. dirus and An. minimus were ELISA positive with both parasite species P. falciparum và P. vivax. The secondary vectors An. aconitus, An. jeyporiensis and An. maculatus had not been infected with malaria parasites. Parasite infection rate of An. dirus ranged from 0.8 to 2.05%, while this rate of An. minimus was higher at 11.3%. This result is also consistent with some domestic and foreign studies.