The overall research objectives of this project are to increase our understanding of the effects of anthropogenic environmental change on malaria vectors and malaria rates, to provide mechanistic explanations of changes in vector species, to develop tools for predicting consequences of man-induced environmental changes and to suggest management options. This research will be conducted in Belize, C.A. as a consortium effort combining ecological, entomological, public health, remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS) expertise. The research questions will be solved through correlative and experimental approaches at both habitat and landscape scales. Two significant environmental impacts relevant to malaria transmission have been identified in Belize: a) increase in sugar-cane cultivation in northern Belize resulting in nutrient enrichment of natural wetland ecosystems, and b) increasing deforestation and clearing of river banks in Central and South Belize. We will test the following hypotheses: HI: Phosphorus (P) enriched runoff from agricultural lands (pasture, sugar cane, and other crops) and human settlements causes an expansion of tall dense macrophyte (TDM) vegetation in wetlands of northern Belize; H2: TDM marshes provide more productive habitat for An. vestitipennis than for An. albimanus; H3: Clearing of river bank gallery forest in Central and South Belize causes the expansion of secondary vegetation that provides more habitats for An. darlingi. Since both An. vestitipennis, and An. darlingi are more efficient malaria vectors than An. albimanus, this change will result in higher malaria risk in human settlements in proximity to the impacted marshes and river/stream habitats. The importance of proximity of impacted environments to peridomestic environment will be evaluated. We will also explore management options such as selective burning that will prevent establishment of TDM and formation of An. vestitipennis habitats.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI049726-03
Application #
6534331
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAI1-GSM-F (S1))
Program Officer
Aultman, Kathryn S
Project Start
2000-09-29
Project End
2005-05-31
Budget Start
2002-09-01
Budget End
2003-05-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2002
Total Cost
$269,933
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Davis
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Earth Sciences/Natur
DUNS #
094878337
City
Davis
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
95618
Kominkova, Dana; Rejmankova, Eliska; Grieco, John et al. (2012) Fatty acids in anopheline mosquito larvae and their habitats. J Vector Ecol 37:382-95
Santos-Ciminera, Patricia D; Roberts, Donald R; Alecrim, Maria das Gracas C et al. (2007) Malaria diagnosis and hospitalization trends, Brazil. Emerg Infect Dis 13:1597-600
Achee, Nicole L; Grieco, John P; Andre, Richard G et al. (2007) A mark release-recapture study to define the flight behaviors of Anopheles vestitipennis and Anopheles albimanus in Belize, Central America. J Am Mosq Control Assoc 23:276-82
Santos-Ciminera, Patricia D; Alecrim, Maria das Gracas C; Roberts, Donald R et al. (2007) Molecular epidemiology of Plasmodium vivax in the State of Amazonas, Brazil. Acta Trop 102:38-46
Grieco, John P; Johnson, Sarah; Achee, Nicole L et al. (2006) Distribution of Anopheles albimanus, Anopheles vestitipennis, and Anopheles crucians associated with land use in northern Belize. J Med Entomol 43:614-22
Achee, Nicole L; Grieco, John P; Masuoka, Penny et al. (2006) Use of remote sensing and geographic information systems to predict locations of Anopheles darlingi-positive breeding sites within the Sibun River in Belize, Central America. J Med Entomol 43:382-92
Achee, Nicole L; Grieco, John P; Rejmankova, Eliska et al. (2006) A delayed release mechanism for mark-release-recapture studies. J Am Mosq Control Assoc 22:573-5
Achee, Nicole L; Grieco, John P; Andre, Richard G et al. (2006) Experimental evaluation of overhanging bamboo in Anopheles darlingi larval habitat selection in Belize, Central America. J Vector Ecol 31:145-51
Achee, Nicole L; Grieco, John P; Rejmankova, Eliska et al. (2006) Biting patterns and seasonal densities of Anopheles mosquitoes in the Cayo District, Belize, Central America with emphasis on Anopheles darlingi. J Vector Ecol 31:45-57
Rejmankova, Eliska; Higashi, Richard; Grieco, John et al. (2005) Volatile substances from larval habitats mediate species-specific oviposition in Anopheles mosquitoes. J Med Entomol 42:95-103

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