Journal of Vector Borne Diseases (Mar 2005)
Entomological studies on malaria in irrigated and non-irrigated areas of Thar desert, Rajasthan, India
Abstract
Background & objectives: Malaria is the major health problem in western Rajasthan yet its vectorfauna and transmission dynamics thereof is not understood properly. The present investigationsreport complete profile of qualitative and quantitative aspects of anopheline species occurring indifferent settings of desert ecosystem.Methods: Area with irrigation through canal for more than 20 years (setting I), area with irrigationthrough canal for 10 years (setting II) and area without any irrigation (setting III) have been selectedfor studies. Species identification and their densities (per man hour) was made as per standardmethods.Results: In village of setting I, during rainy season, An. subpictus and An. stephensi were presentwhile during winter season four species— An. subpictus, An. stephensi, An. culicifacies and An.annularis were collected. In all the villages of setting I, II and III no Anopheles mosquito wasobserved during summer season. In the villages of desert region without any irrigation facilitiesthrough any canal, the anopheline species were present only during rainy season.Interpretation & conclusion: An. stephensi is the major malaria vector of desert irrespective ofwhether the area is canal irrigated or not. During summer season absence of vector species in all thevillages require further studies on micro-ecology of the species under desert conditions
