Potential role of Anopheles subpictus as a malaria vector in Ghaziabad District, Uttar Pradesh, India

Anopheles subpictus, have been incriminated as a vector in some states of India hence, understanding its possible role in malaria transmission is essential. The present study was focussed on the alteration of mosquito profile in terms of species composition with particular emphasis on malaria vectors and known non-vector An.subpictus due to change in breeding sites that supports different species in Ghaziabad district, Uttar Pradesh, India. The immature larva were collected from the identified habitats and the adult mosquitoes were collected from human dwellings, cattle sheds and mixed dwellings of urban, rural and peri-urban during seasonal surveillance from April 2014 to February 2016 in Ghaziabad District. Pyrethrum spray collection was conducted in human dwellings during the same period. Sporozoite detection was done through ELISA and confirmation of positives by PCR. An.subpictus was first time found with Plasmodium infection of 0.73% (5/680) and 0.74% (4/539) by ELISA and PCR respectively, in rural areas (villages of Bhojpur and Muradnagar PHC). An.subpictus together with An.culicifacies and An.stephensi responsible for total sporozoite rate of 1.63% (11/680) by ELISA and 1.03% (7/680) confirmed by PCR. An.subpictus (49.32%) was the most prevalent species of Anopheles with highest abundance in human dwellings (55.76%). Their distribution in Ghaziabad district depends on type of breeding sites and season (by Chi square test) with maximum collection during monsoon season (80. 56%). This study reported role of An.subpictus as a vector of malaria in Ghaziabad district for the first time.