Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology
Volume 2018 (2018), Article ID 9853409, 17 pages
https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/9853409

Research Article

Adaptation of Anopheles Vectors to Anthropogenic Malaria-Associated Rubber Plantations and Indoor Residual Spraying: Establishing Population Dynamics and Insecticide Susceptibility

Suntorn Pimnon1,2 and Adisak Bhumiratana³

¹Faculty of Public Health, Bangkokthonburi University, Bangkok 10170, Thailand
²Department of Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
³Center of Ecohealth Education and Research (CEER), Faculty of Public Health, Thammasat University, Rangsit Campus, Pathumthani 12121, Thailand

Correspondence should be addressed to Adisak Bhumiratana; adisak.bhu@mahidol.ac.th

Received 1 February 2018; Revised 16 April 2018; Accepted 23 April 2018; Published 21 June 2018

Academic Editor: Ruth Müller

Copyright © 2018 Suntorn Pimnon and Adisak Bhumiratana. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Anthropogenic activity such as the establishment of Anopheles-infested rubber plantations can influence local malaria transmission dynamics to which the population dynamics and insecticide susceptibility of local Anopheles vectors are related. Using human landing catch collections at a house protected by indoor residual spraying (IRS), the periodic assessment of species composition, abundance, and blood-feeding behaviors was done in pre-IRS, during IRS, and post-IRS at 3, 6, and 12 months in a malaria-associated rubber plantation (MRP) ecotope of the Bo Rai district, Trat Province, Thailand, after malaria outbreak occurred. The study MRP ecotope elicited the population ratio (pi) of Anopheles vectors: An. campestris (0.747), An. dirus (0.168), An. minimus (0.037), An. barbirostris (0.027), and An. pseudowillmori (0.002), and of An. jamesii nonvector (0.019). Among these, two predominant An. campestris and An. dirus night-biters were then used in the susceptibility test against 0.05% deltamethrin (DEL) and 0.09% bifenthrin (BT) insecticides currently used in IRS. An. campestris, a suspected vector of Plasmodium vivax, had a tendency to appear throughout the study and behaved both exophagy and endophagy. It was highly susceptible to BT, showing 95.0% mortality (95% CI, 79.1–100) while decreasing sensitivity of 87.2% (95% CI, 78.4–95.9) to DEL. An. dirus, a primary vector of Plasmodium falciparum, had a tendency to feed outdoors rather than indoors. Significant differences in the abundance (mean density and human landing rate) were observed at pre-IRS (), and similarly, during IRS (). It was highly susceptible to DEL and BT, showing 100% mortality rate. Evidently, the study MRP ecotope contributed receptive environment to favor the abundant local Anopheles vectors and their outdoor biting preference. This can pose the risk for residual malaria parasite transmission in Anopheles vectors even though the house is protected by IRS.

1. Introduction

Land-use and land-cover change in the Earth’s ecosystems reflects human interactions with the natural environment and increasingly, has been addressed as a primary source of global environmental change [1–3]. The anthropogenic factors that contribute significantly to land-use change become essential for studying human-environment interactions. Particularly, deforestation and other anthropogenic landscapes influence biophysical environmental conditions of the land system, habitat change, and invasive species [4].

Anthropogenic activity such as the establishment or expansion of rubber plantations [5, 6] can influence the agricultural land use changes and agrienvironmental climatic conditions that can cause human impacts of malaria [5–8]. For instance, over two decades of large-scale forestry cultures including rubber plantations in Thailand influence many receptive land areas of rubber plantations that potentially established the emergence of malaria outbreaks [5–7]. Trat Province located in the eastern region of Thailand has known endemic malaria transmission confined to Thai-Cambodia border settings and land areas of rubber plantations. Overall, the province has remarkably shown a trend of dramatic decreases in malaria case numbers annually reported by the districts (Figure 1). However, Bo Rai district showed ongoing transmission with a 2012-2013 upward trend. Most affected persons including local Thais rather than other foreign migrant workers were involved in routine rubber plantation practices including rubber tapping during the night time. This key district has established traditional rubber plantations by replacing oil palm plantations and mixed fruit orchards since the early 1990s. Land transformations to rubber plantations have resulted in local malaria transmission dynamics whether emerged or reemerged at high levels of malaria incidence, particularly in the South, East, and Northeast of Thailand [5].

(a)

(b)

Figure 1: Malaria incidence for Trat, 2011–2015. (a) A trend of malaria incidence showing annually reported malarial cases with the types of Plasmodium infection between 2011 and 2015 at the district level of Trat Province. The local Thai populations were more likely to be affected by malaria than foreign migrant workers. Dashed line is shown for overall malarial case numbers. (b) Annual malaria incidence mostly reported by two following districts, Bo Rai and Mueang Trat, as compared to overall malarial case numbers. FMWs: foreign migrant workers; PF: Plasmodium falciparum; PV: Plasmodium vivax; PM: Plasmodium malariae; PO: Plasmodium ovale; UN: unknown malarial parasites. Data were modified from the Bureau of Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand.

The malaria-associated rubber plantation (MRP) ecotope is the unique landscape structure [5, 6], that is, both topographically shaped by rubber plantation polygons in which rubber trees are either monocultured or mixed with other perennial trees or orchards and geographically associated with the infestation or reinfestation of Anopheles vectors [9]. The potential MRP ecotope to which the shaded environment of rubber plantations is related can create microclimatic conditions favoring the availability of Anopheles larval habitats and the abundance of Anopheles vectors [5, 9–12]. If expected to accompany highly dynamically micro-agrienvironmental and climatic conditions, diverse MRP ecotopes are likely to become ecoepidemiological complex settings that can potentially drive the dynamics of malaria vector populations and human-vector interactions. If more adversely affected under these circumstances, the dynamics of vulnerability to malaria transmission can be the results of the increased susceptibility of vulnerable persons exposed to local Anopheles vectors [5, 7, 9] that have the ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions from natural forest habitats to rubber plantations as cultivated forest habitats.

The MRP ecotopes pertaining to human-induced land-use changes have known significant sites for surveillance of Anopheles vector populations and malaria transmission [5, 6, 8, 9, 13]. Anopheles vector surveillance focuses on species composition, abundance, blood-feeding behaviors, and on insecticide susceptibility of local Anopheles vectors adapted to biophysical conditions of receptive rubber plantations. Due to the outdoor exposure to frequent bites of local Anopheles vectors, residual malaria parasite transmission is needed to monitor the Anopheles vector infections even though the houses are protected by the implementation of core interventions of vector control including indoor residual spraying (IRS), insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), and long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) [5, 13].

Thus, the ultimate goal of this study was to assess the adaptation of local Anopheles vectors to local environment of an emerged MRP ecotope site of the Bo Rai district, Trat Province, where the IRS using the pyrethroids had been implemented to interrupt the local malaria transmission. First, we analyzed the population dynamics of locally adapted Anopheles vectors, based radically on variations of species composition, abundance, and blood-feeding behaviors of Anopheles vectors that were observed in pre-IRS, during IRS, and post-IRS. Lastly, we tested the susceptibility of wild-caught population samples of some potential Anopheles vectors against the pyrethroids that were currently used in vector control.

2. Methods

2.1. Study Plan

2.1.1. Background Information of the Emerged MRP Ecotope

The study MRP ecotope that established the emergence of malaria outbreak between 2013 and 2014 was located in Khlong Khak village, Bo Rai district, Trat Province, close to the Thai-Cambodia border [6]. The outbreak was likely to relate high rainfall states to malaria risk (Figure 2). All households residing in four separate rubber plantation polygons of this study MRP ecotope were involved in rubber plantation practices. In this outbreak, the vector control measures using IRS and ITNs were household-level implemented in the absence of vector surveillance (Figure 3). Between August and October 2013, the Vector-Borne Disease Control Unit (VBDU) 6.4.4 Bo Rai, belonging to the Vector-Borne Disease Control Center (VBDC) 6.4, had implemented the IRS using deltamethrin (DEL) insecticide as the first-line malaria vector control to interrupt local malaria transmission. But there existed two more rubber tappers who developed newly P. vivax infection in December 2013, and later, newly P. malariae infection in June 2014. Finally, it was locally arrested by the IRS and ITNs. The DEL had been used until August 2014. The bifenthrin (BT) insecticide was recommended for use as the second-line malaria vector control in 2015.

Figure 2: Rainfall patterns. Monthly rainfall data are shown for the period, from January 2011 to May 2016, for Trat province and Bo Rai district. Also, monthly rainfall patterns are shown during which the malaria outbreak occurred at Khlong Khak MRP ecotope of the Bo Rai district, and assessment of Anopheles species composition, abundance, and blood-feeding behaviors was carried out.

Figure 3: A schematic presentation of a timeline of the occurrence of malaria outbreak, outbreak investigation, malaria vector control implementation, and study plan. The Plasmodium infections occurring in four separate rubber plantation polygons in which the polygon TBDKK3C was selected as the study site after the outbreak was locally arrested by the implementation of core interventions of the vector control using IRS and ITNs.

The outbreak investigation and response were implemented according to the guidelines of the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) by the VBDC 6.4 Trat as the first responder, belonging to the Office of Disease Prevention and Control (ODPC) 6 Chonburi. However, the outbreak investigation lacked baseline information of species composition, abundance, and blood-feeding behaviors of local Anopheles vectors. Neither the fluctuations of the Anopheles vector abundances that relate to changes in monthly rainfall patterns nor the variations of human blood-feeding behaviors and insecticide susceptibility of local Anopheles vectors in this study MRP ecotope have been documented.

2.1.2. Study Design

The study was followed by the recent 2013-2014 malaria outbreak at Khlong Khak MRP ecotope as mentioned earlier. The study protocols were designed to better understand the vulnerability in how local Anopheles vectors are adapted to local environment (or certain biophysical conditions) of this emerged MRP ecotope and how they respond to the IRS using the pyrethroids (or certain chemical constraints) currently used in the NMCP. Prior to the study, Anopheles larval surveys were performed between January and May 2015 in order to determine the extent to which this MRP ecotope had the potential density of Anopheles larval breeding sites. This permitted selection of a house whose two rubber tappers developed the infections with P. falciparum and P. malariae within two consecutive years, as described in detail later.

In this study, a selected house was treated by the IRS using BT. This permitted assessment of the effects of IRS on the dynamics of Anopheles vector populations by periodic assessment of species composition, abundance, and blood-feeding behaviors of local Anopheles vectors; all of which were collected by human landing catches, starting from May 2015 to May 2016 (Figures 2 and 3) as described in detail later. Comparisons were performed on the mean densities or human landing rates of night-biting Anopheles female adult populations derived from indoor and outdoor collections in pre-IRS, during IRS, and post-IRS. At the time of the mosquito collection, the study tested the susceptibility of pooled population samples of some potential Anopheles vectors against the pyrethroids including DEL and BT. The ethical clearance was approved by the Ethical Review Board at the Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University.

2.1.3. Study Area and Study Site

The Khlong Khak MRP ecotope covers a 1.5 km²Anopheles-infested land area of rubber plantations. It is located on the latitude and longitude coordinates, 12°29′43.1″N to 12°30′15.6″N and 102°36′56.8″E to 102°37′45.9″E, which correspond to the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinate system as shown in Figure 4(a). This MRP ecotope established malaria infection pockets in four separate rubber plantation polygons (Figures 4(a) and 4(b)). In 2013, the introduced infections with P. vivax affected two rubber tappers living in the same rubber plantation polygon, TBDKK3A, and other accompanying person in the neighbor polygon, TBDKK3D. The infection with P. falciparum affected two rubber tappers living in two neighbor polygons, TBDKK3B and TBDKK3C. In 2014, the infection with P. malariae affected one more rubber tapper living in TBDKK3C.

(ab)

(c)

Figure 4: Study area and study site. (a) MRP ecotope at Khlong Khak village, Bo Rai district, Trat Province, elicited a malaria outbreak in 2013-2014. All malarial infections were epidemiologically linked with the indigenous Plasmodium infections in four separate MRP polygons within a 1.5 km² MRP ecotope infested with Anopheles vectors. Data were modified from Kaewwaen and Bhumiratana [6]. (b) As similar to the other Anopheles sampling site I, the Anopheles sampling site II reflected households with rubber plantation practices whose members acquired the Plasmodium infections through mosquito-borne transmission. This MRP ecotope had strong density of Anopheles larval breeding sites. It was used in periodic assessment of species composition, abundance, and blood-feeding behaviors of Anopheles vectors at a house of rubber plantation polygon TBDKK3C as a study site. (c) A IRS-protected house of TBDKK3C polygon was used to collect Anopheles vector population samples by human landing catches. The distance of this IRS-protected house was estimated using the nearest certain Anopheles larval breeding sites within Khlong Khak MRP ecotope. The IRS using BT was described in detail in the text.

Prior to the study, Anopheles larval surveys were carried out, based on the initial assessment of potential density of Anopheles larval breeding sites within Khlong Khak MRP ecotope, in assistance of the entomological survey teams of the VBDU 6.4.4 Bo Rai and the VBDC 6.4 Trat. A TBDKK3C polygon was then selected as the study site for the Anopheles sampling site II (Figure 4(b)). This site met the selection criteria including the nearest larval breeding sites of some known primary vectors including An. dirus, An. maculatus, and An. minimus, the combination of human-vector interactions through the night time rubber plantation practices based on the vulnerability that two exposed rubber tappers acquired the P. falciparum and P. malariae infections through frequent bites of some potential Anopheles vectors, and the likelihood of variations of blood-seeking behaviors and flight ranges in local Anopheles vectors (i.e., primary, secondary, and suspected vectors). This selection permitted a house of this TBDKK3C polygon, which was treated by IRS using the BT insecticide in May 2015 (Figure 4(c)). Then, the IRS-protected house was used to monitor Anopheles adult vector populations sampled by human landing catches. The insecticide susceptibility of pooled population samples of some potent Anopheles vectors was tested against the pyrethroids (both DEL and BT) that had been used in IRS for vector control in the study area. Protocols for the mosquito collection and species identification of Anopheles adult vector population as well as insecticide susceptibility were described later. In addition, the population samples of locally adapted Anopheles vectors for this sampling site II in the Khlong Khak MRP ecotope were compared to those collected from the other Anopheles sampling site I. This site I was used as a sentinel site for baseline entomological surveillance for malaria to assess periodically species composition and abundance of Anopheles vector populations in malaria transmission control areas as part of the NMCP (Figure 4(b)).

2.2. Indoor Residual Spray (IRS) Using Bifenthrin

The IRS currently used in this study was guided by World Health Organization (WHO) [14, 15]. Briefly, the insecticide was formulated as water-dispersible powder (WP) of BT 10% w/w as an active ingredient. A 50 gram powder of BT, that is, Bistar 10 WP prepacked by Chemfleet Co., Ltd., Bangkok, was made only for use in vector control implemented by the Thai NMCP. The insecticide was freshly prepared by suspending it well into 7.5 L of rain water in a plastic bucket under endemic conditions. By using a hand-compression sprayer, the suspension was then added into the stainless steel tank with a tank cover. Approximately 50–55 full strokes, which corresponded to 50–55 psi as measured by a pressure gauge, were applied to discharge the insecticide onto the walls, windows, doors, and ceilings of the house both inside and outside (Figure 4(c)). The active ingredient of BT was at a concentration of 25 mg/m², as recommended by WHO [14].

2.3. Assessment of IRS Effects on the Adaptation of Local Anopheles Vector Populations

2.3.1. Periodic Assessment of Anopheles Population Dynamics

In order to assess the effects of IRS on the adaptation of local Anopheles vector populations, the periodic assessment of Anopheles species composition, abundance, and blood-seeking behaviors was conducted using the IRS-protected house under agrienvironmental climatic conditions of Khlong Khak MRP ecotope as mentioned above. The indoor and outdoor collections of Anopheles mosquito populations were done in pre-IRS, during IRS, and post-IRS. In pre-IRS, collections were done in the early May 2015. During IRS, collections were done in the late May 2015. In post-IRS, collections were done in August 2015 (after 3 months), November 2015 (after 6 months), and May 2016 (after 12 months) (Figure 3).

2.3.2. Human Landing Catch Collection and Species Identification

Human landing catch collection of blood-feeding Anopheles mosquitoes [16] was carried out between May 2015 and May 2016. A scheme for sampling Anopheles vector populations was designed by the following parameters: (i) the duration at which primary vectors, An. dirus, An. maculatus, and An. minimus, and their counterparts seek blood meals [5, 6, 10, 11], (ii) the duration at which the potency of IRS using BT lasted for as long as 6 months, (iii) the rainy-to-winter season during which abundance and distribution of Anopheles mosquitoes was upregulated, and (iv) the season during which the harvest of natural rubber was performed by rubber tappers [5, 6].

As to collect both endophagous and exophagous Anopheles vectors that sought human blood meals, the outdoor collection was performed within a premise of 10-meter distance from the indoor collection. At the time of collection, the Anopheles population samples were caught by four collectors using the aspirators. The indoor and outdoor collections were performed with the nocturnal periodicity for three consecutive days between 18:00 h and 06:00 h on the next morning. In every hour, a 45-minute landing catch was done followed by a 15-minute cessation. Also, temperature and humidity were recorded. All wild-caught Anopheles mosquitoes per hour were placed into the plastic cups covered with nylon, transferred to the field-based station, and then kept under a suitable condition of feeding a 10% glucose solution. For the identification of Anopheles species [17], the adult female mosquitoes individually transferred into new glass tubes were morphologically examined under a stereomicroscope.

2.4. Insecticide Susceptibility Test

The insecticide susceptibility test of using the pooled population samples of some potent Anopheles vectors was performed according to the conventional method described by WHO [18, 19]. Primary vectors, An. dirus and An. minimus, and their counterpart species, An. campestris, were likely to elicit seasonal abundance. However, the sample populations of only two predominantly abundant Anopheles vectors including An. dirus and An. campestris were subjected to the susceptibility test against the pyrethroids currently used in the IRS in the study MRP ecotope as described below. An. minimus whose female population numbers were very small at each time of collection was excluded.

Briefly, the pooled population samples of An. dirus and An. campestris female adults that were obtained at each time of collection were placed into each respective holding tube configuration of the test and control. In the test experiment, the holding tube contained a paper either treated with 0.05% DEL or with 0.09% BT. The concentration of pyrethroid was recommended as diagnostic single dose [18]. The sample population(s) of An. dirus and An. campestris female adults was separately exposed to the pyrethroid for one hour. In the control experiment, the female population(s) was exposed to untreated paper for the same one hour. Immediately after exposure, the exposed female mosquitoes were transferred to clean holding tube(s), and cotton pads soaked with 10% glucose solution were provided. The number of knockdown or dying mosquitoes was recorded within 24 h postexposure. Similarly, the nonexposed female adult mosquitoes were treated as before, and the number of dying or dead female adult mosquitoes was also recorded. If any, the replicates of paired tests and controls for each insecticide were performed. Seventy-nine percent (62/79) of the An. dirus female adults tested against the pyrethroids were collected at pre-IRS (42/55) and during IRS (20/24). Eighty-one percent (290/359) of An. campestris female adults that were collected at 3-month (65/68) and 6-month (225/291) post-IRS were used.

2.5. Data Analysis

The principal outcomes of this study were analyzed to explore Anopheles species composition, abundance, and blood-feeding behaviors and to see whether the IRS using BT currently available for the vector control could reduce the density of endophagous versus exophagous Anopheles vector populations. Descriptive statistics were used to present the number and percent of night-biting Anopheles vector populations that were collected in pre-IRS, during IRS, and post-IRS at 3, 6, and 12 months. Given its fluctuation constrained by seasonal variations, the Anopheles vector abundance only constrained by the effects of IRS was observed. Thus, the significant difference in the abundance (the mean density or human landing rate) of three predominant night-biters An. dirus, An. minimus, and An. campestris periodically monitored by indoor and outdoor collections was tested using the one-way ANOVA for two independent samples ().

To assess the susceptibility of An. dirus and An. campestris to the pyrethroids, both DEL and BT, currently available for use in vector control in the study MRP ecotope, the mortality of Anopheles vector populations in paired tests and controls was analyzed. The mortality (%) of exposed populations of each test is mathematically expressed as observed mortality which is equal to total number of dead/dying populations divided by total sample size and multiplied by 100. Similarly, the calculation for the control sample was made to obtain a value for the control mortality. The Abbots formula was used for the adjusted mortality, when the control mortality is greater than 5% but less than 20%, as follows: (% observed mortality–% control mortality)/(100–% control mortality) × 100. If any, an estimate of the 95% confidence intervals was used for observed mortality in the test. The susceptibility of An. dirus and An. campestris to the pyrethroids was qualitatively assessed as high (98–100% mortality), moderate (80–97% mortality), and low (<80% mortality).

3. Results

3.1. Anopheles Species Composition, Abundance, and Blood-Feeding Behaviors

The study MRP ecotope demonstrated that it was likely to show the population dynamics (the species and number) of local Anopheles vectors with the nocturnal periodicity in the absence or presence of IRS (Tables 1 and 2 and Figure 5). Such findings compared well with findings of those indigenous to the Anopheles sampling site I (Figure 6). Based on human landing catch collections, a total of 519 Anopheles mosquitoes (population ratio or pi) included five species of malaria vectors: An. campestris (388; pi = 0.747), An. dirus (87; pi = 0.168), An. minimus (19; pi = 0.037), An. barbirostris (14; pi = 0.027), and An. pseudowillmori (1; pi = 0.002), respectively. An. jamesii (totally 10; pi = 0.019) was the only one species of nonvector found throughout the study.

Table 1: Periodic assessment of endophagous Anopheles species composition and abundance by night-time human landing catches in pre-IRS, during IRS, and post-IRS.

Species
Status
Number (%) of indoor-biting Anopheles mosquitoes

Pre-IRS
During IRS
3-month post-IRS
6-month post-IRS
12-month post-IRS

An. dirus
Primary
8 (53.3)
0
0
0
1 (10.0)

An. minimus
Primary
1 (6.7)
0
0
2 (1.8)
0

An. barbirostris
Suspected
2 (13.3)
3 (100.0)
0
0
0

An. campestris
Suspected
1 (6.7)
0
38 (100)
110 (98.2)
9 (90.0)

An. jamesii
Nonvector
3 (20.0)
0
0
0
0

Total

15
3
38
112
10

Table 2: Periodic assessment of exophagous Anopheles species composition and abundance by night-time human landing catches in pre-IRS, during IRS, and post-IRS.

Species
Status
Number (%) of outdoor-biting Anopheles mosquitoes

Pre-IRS
During IRS
3-month post-IRS
6-month post-IRS
12-month post-IRS

An. dirus
Primary
47 (72.3)
24 (72.7)
0
0
7 (38.9)

An. minimus
Primary
2 (3.1)
1 (3.0)
0
13 (6.7)
0

An. pseudowillmori
Secondary
1 (1.5)
0
0
0
0

An. barbirostris
Suspected
4 (6.2)
5 (15.2)
0
0
0

An. campestris
Suspected
6 (9.2)
3 (9.1)
30 (100)
181 (92.8)
10 (55.6)

An. jamesii
Non vector
5 (7.7)
0
0
1 (0.5)
1 (5.5)

Total

65
33
30
195
18

Figure 5: Comparison of the abundances of night-biting An. dirus, An. minimus, and An. campestris vectors in pre-IRS, during IRS, and post-IRS. The female adult populations of three predominantly night-biting An. dirus, An. minimus, and An. campestris vectors were compared using human landing catch collections. At the time of indoor and outdoor collections, night-biting periodicity is also shown for pre-IRS, during IRS, and post-IRS (i.e., 3-, 6-, and 12-month post-IRS).

Figure 6: Anopheles populations adapted to the sampling site I based on baseline entomological surveillance data of Anopheles vector populations from the Anopheles sampling site I from 2003 to 2016. Variations of species composition and abundance are shown. The total number and the numbers (in parenthesis) collected between the first-half (front number, January to June) and the second-half (rare number, July to December) of each year are presented. The Anopheles population ratios (pi) were expressed by the number of individual species divided by the total number of all species observed at time of collection. Data were modified from the VBDC 6.4 Trat.

Particularly, three predominantly anthropophagous vectors, namely, An. dirus, An. minimus, and An. campestris, were likely to show night-biting preference with two peaks during the night time regardless of the IRS effects (Figure 5). An. dirus had the first peak between 21:00 and 23:00 h and the second peak between 24:00 and 02:00 h. Similarly, An. minimus had the first peak between 19:00 and 21:00 h and the second peak between 01:00 and 03:00 h. As compared to An. dirus and An. minimus counterparts, An. campestris started to seek blood meal from 19:00 to 06:00 h but the first peak before midnight, starting from 20:00 to 22:00 h, and after midnight occurring between 01:00 and 03:00 h. Moreover, these three abundant Anopheles vectors were more likely to behave exophagy than endophagy (Tables 1 and 2 and Figure 5). For instance, there were more exophagous versus endophagous vector populations: An. campestris (230 versus 158), An. dirus (78 versus 9), and An. minimus (16 versus 3).

3.2. IRS Effects on the Abundance of An. dirus, An. minimus, and An. campestris

Provided that IRS had the effects on density reduction of Anopheles vectors seeking blood meals in the IRS-protected house, the abundances of three predominant night-biters An. dirus, An. minimus, and An. campestris, which were obtained by indoor and outdoor collections, were compared at different time periods in pre-IRS, during IRS, and post-IRS. The Anopheles vector abundance relied on two entomological indices, mean density (Figure 7) and human landing rate (female mosquitoes per person per hour per night) (Figure 8).

Figure 7: IRS effects on the abundances (mean densities) of night-biting An. dirus, An. minimus, and An. campestris vectors in pre-IRS, during IRS, and post-IRS. Effects of IRS on the abundance of three predominantly night-biting An. dirus, An. minimus, and An. campestris vectors were compared between indoor and outdoor densities (mean female adult numbers) of Anopheles vectors at pre-IRS, during IRS, and post-IRS (i.e., 3-, 6-, and 12-month post-IRS). The significance at is shown.

Figure 8: IRS effects on the abundances (human landing rates) of night-biting An. dirus, An. minimus, and An. campestris vectors in pre-IRS, during IRS, and post-IRS. Similar to Figure 7, IRS effects were observed on the human landing rates of three predominantly night-biting An. dirus, An. minimus, and An. campestris vectors by comparing indoor and outdoor collections of Anopheles vectors at pre-IRS, during IRS, and post-IRS (i.e., 3-, 6-, and 12-month post-IRS). The significance at is shown.

Obviously, the IRS had the effects on the abundance of these responsible Anopheles vectors that behaved endophagously. There was a significant difference in the abundance of exophagous versus endophagous population samples of An. dirus observed at pre-IRS ( for mean density; for human landing rate) and during IRS ( for mean density; for human landing rate) (Figures 7 and 8 and Table S1). The abundance of An. dirus and An. minimus that fed indoors was likely to be influenced by the IRS. Obviously, An. dirus disappeared at 3-month and 6-month post-IRS but reappeared at 12-month post-IRS. An. minimus disappeared during IRS and at 3-month and 12-month post-IRS but reappeared at 6-month post-IRS. There was a significant difference in the mean density of exophagous versus endophagous population samples observed at 6-month post-IRS () (Figure 7 and Table S1).

By contrast, An. campestris had a tendency to feed outdoors and indoors, while appearing over a period of the study in the presence of IRS (Figures 7 and 8 and Table S1). An. campestris had a tendency to increase more abundance, that is, increasing mean density or human landing rate at 6-month post-IRS rather than that observed at 3-month and 12-month post-IRS. However, there was no significant difference in the abundance (neither mean density nor human landing rate) of exophagous versus endophagous An. campestris population samples observed in pre-IRS, during IRS, and post-IRS, whether 3, 6, or 12 months.

3.3. Susceptibility of An. campestris and An. dirus to the Pyrethroids

Only the pooled population samples of An. campestris and An. dirus were used in testing their susceptibility to the pyrethroids, both DEL and BT, in this study. An. campestris had a tendency to be moderately susceptible to 0.05% DEL and 0.09% BT, showing the observed mortality rates (95% CI) of 87.2% (78.4–95.9) and 95.0% (79.1–100) (Table 3). An. dirus had a tendency to be highly susceptible to 0.05% DEL and 0.09% BT, showing the same 100% mortality rate (Table 3). Additionally, An. dirus population samples that were collected by human landing catches from other Anopheles sampling sites of the Bo Rai district were also highly susceptible to 0.05% DEL with 100% mortality rate.

Table 3: Susceptibility of An. campestris and An. dirus to deltamethrin and bifenthrin.

Total number of samples
Mortality (%)
95% CI for observed mortality in test

Test
Control
Test
Control

An. campestrisb

    Deltamethrin, 0.05%
140
32
87.2
0.0
78.4–95.9

    Bifenthrin, 0.09%
88
30
95.0d
13.3
79.1–100.0

An. dirusb

    Deltamethrin, 0.05%
32
10
100.0
0.0
NA

    Bifenthrin, 0.09%
10
10
100.0
0.0
NA

An. dirusc

    Deltamethrin, 0.05%
60
10
100.0
0.0
NA

NA: not applicable. aPopulation samples obtained at 3- and 6-month post-IRS from the study MRP ecotope. Population samples obtained between pre-IRS and during IRS from the study MRP ecotope as the Anopheles sampling site IIb, and additionally, other Anopheles sampling sites of Bo Rai districtc. dAbbot’s formula applied to correct observed mortality in the test.

4. Discussion

The study MRP ecotope contributed greatly to favor the adaptation of local Anopheles vectors that can infest rubber plantations as receptive environment of the recent 2013-2014 malaria outbreak. Our findings compared well with findings obtained from the Anopheles sampling site I that this MRP ecotope created agrienvironmental climatic conditions suitable for the diversity of Anopheles vectors. This driver may be associated with the emergence of local malaria transmission dynamics caused by Plasmodium malarial parasites in Khlong Khak MRP ecotope. The present study demonstrated that, if expected to accompany changes in their responses to the insecticides currently used in the vector control as part of the NMCP, the variation in species composition, abundance, and blood-feeding behaviors of local Anopheles vectors was deemed necessary for surveillance and monitoring of residual malaria parasite transmission in Anopheles vectors. The adaptation of primary and suspected Anopheles vectors sessile to receptive environment of Khlong Khak MRP ecotope was discussed in detail.

4.1. Primary Anopheles Vectors and IRS Effects

The Anopheles-infested land area of Khlong Khak MRP ecotope is covered by the rubber trees with dense canopies connecting to the hill. This MRP ecotope generates microclimatic conditions and shaded environment that a plethora of Anopheles vectors can infest or reinfest. The primary vectors adapted to local environment of the study MRP ecotope included An. dirus, An. minimus, and An. maculatus; all of which have their sibling species and exhibit abilities to transmit P. falciparum and P. vivax malaria [20–24]. We found that An. dirus requires particular environment for breeding larvae in standing water or low-flowing water of small, shallow rock pools with mud/soil/sand and plant debris. These shaded rock pools are located on the hillside or foothills, on the altitudes between 70 and 120 meters above sea level (MASL). Both An. dirus and An. maculatus cobred in some shaded rock pools, while An. minimus bred in a stream of low-moving water with vegetation on the altitudes between 30 and 50 MASL. Given its seasonal abundance, human blood-feeding behaviors, and flight ranges, An. dirus and An. minimus were predominant night-biters in the study MRP ecotope. Meanwhile, An. maculatus seemed not to seek any human blood meal despite the fact that there existed more available breeding sites, and further investigation is required.

Such primary vectors resting outdoors may have abilities to seek human blood meals within their flight ranges. We found that both An. dirus and An. minimus night-biters had a tendency to feed outdoors rather than indoors in the absence or presence of the IRS using BT. Apart from the dynamics of Anopheles vector populations, that is, constrained seasonally and geographically by ecological relationship in nature, the fluctuation of their abundance and feeding habits observed in this study could be influenced by the IRS. Our findings compared well with previous findings that as compared to An. minimus [22, 23] and An. maculatus [20], An. dirus was likely to behave both exophagy and endophagy, but significantly, it was a exophilic anthropophagous feeder [21]. With respect to their blood-feeding behaviors that responded to the IRS, these primary vectors seemed to feed outdoors rather than indoors, showing mean densities or human landing rates for outdoor feeding greater than that for indoor feeding in pre-IRS, during IRS, and post-IRS. The findings suggested that blood-feeding behaviors of both An. dirus and An. minimus were likely to avoid feeding indoors in the IRS-protected house [25, 26]. On the contrary, the IRS using BT that had the potency for as long as 6 months might have the effects on reducing indoor densities of these primary vectors [25–27], particularly endophilic anthropophagous An. dirus night-biter during IRS and post-IRS. We do not have additional data that the IRS using BT or DEL has knockdown effects or excite-repellency effects. However, An. dirus was more sensitive to the IRS using BT than An. minimus. Due to its potency, the effects of IRS might greatly reduce the abundance of An. dirus within 6 months of post-IRS, but not An. minimus significantly feeding outdoors. The IRS might be slightly effective at 12-month post-IRS against An. dirus. Based on the insecticide susceptibility testing, An. dirus had a tendency to be highly susceptible (100% mortality) to both DEL and BT currently used in the IRS. As compared to BT, DEL exerted the knockdown effects that could kill rapidly the sample populations when contacted within one hour. These observations implied that tested population samples of the local An. dirus vector, as well as An. minimus, had a tendency to be highly sensitive to the pyrethroids tested in this study.

Such findings implied that if expected to accompany changes in their behaviors, both An. dirus and An. minimus can pose the risk for residual malaria parasite transmission in these vectors in the study MRP ecotope due likely to the decreased potency of IRS. Further investigation is however required to better understand whether changes in behavioral responses to the IRS using BT or other pyrethroids are consistent with the genetic and physiochemical constraints [25–27]. If there are limits of the insecticides used in the IRS, any vulnerable person might not be sheltered by the IRS because such night-time rubber tapping might render them frequently exposed to outdoor biting of those primary vectors. If expected to accompany risk health behaviors, they would be at the greater risks for the infections as similar to those infected with Plasmodium infections in this study MRP ecotope.

4.2. Suspected Anopheles Vectors and IRS Effects

Based on their abundance and distribution, other potentially suspected vectors adapted to the local environment of rubber plantations in the study MRP ecotope included An. campestris and An. barbirostris because they were likely to potentially transmit P. vivax in Thailand [28–30]. Recently in Cambodia, Durnez et al. [31] demonstrated that, based on cow-baited tent collection, An. barbirostris was shown for a natural host of carrying P. falciparum parasite. Among these vectors that rested outdoors and likely behaved zoophagy, An. campestris had a tendency to play role in transmission of P. vivax in this MRP ecotope rather than its counterparts, An. barbirostris and An. pseudowillmori, due likely to its abundance and distribution. Obviously in the study MRP ecotope, An. campestris could breed in man-made pools with vegetation, shallow wells, and in standing or low-flowing water of small, shallow mud/soil pools with some plant debris on the altitude of approximately 30 MASL. The availability of these larval habitats was commonly seen in this MRP ecotope all the year round. Particularly, both larvae and adult population numbers increased with increasing rainfall. This is a reason why An. campestris as most abundant species had more advantageous competition in the absence or presence of the IRS in the study MRP ecotope.

More interestingly, An. campestris had a tendency to bite indoors in the IRS-protected house. We argued that, in comparison with those observed at pre-IRS and during IRS, there existed elevated numbers of local An. campestris, especially observed at 3- and 6-month IRS. The observed endophagous numbers of An. campestris suggested the forces, but not the selection, exerted by the tolerability to the insecticides, both DEL and BT, currently used in the IRS in this MRP ecotope. The local An. campestris populations had a tendency to be moderately susceptible (less than 98% mortality) to BT, but the species was likely to be resistant to the DEL tested in this study. On the contrary, the IRS using these insecticides did not reduce the indoor densities of An. campestris, hence rendering any vulnerable persons more likely susceptible to the P. vivax infection although sheltered by the IRS. If there are limits of the potency of DEL or BT used in the IRS, further investigation will be needed to better address the use and coverage of the IRS using these pyrethroids whether it could reduce human-vector contact in the IRS-protected house through the acquisition to bites of An. campestris as compared to that of An. dirus and An. minimus.

5. Conclusion and Suggestions

The study MRP ecotope was geographically associated with the infestation or reinfestation of local Anopheles vectors sessile to receptive environment of rubber plantations. The agrienviornmental climatic conditions of the MRP ecotope may influence the dynamics of Anopheles vector populations based radically on variations of species composition, abundance, and blood-feeding behaviors. Three predominant Anopheles vectors including primary vectors (An. dirus and An. minimus) and suspected vector (An. campestris) might play roles in local malaria transmission dynamics in the study MRP ecotope. Also, all these target vectors are needed for surveillance and monitoring of residual malaria parasite transmission in the absence or presence of the implementation of core interventions of the vector control [32, 33] due likely to their seasonal abundance, outdoor biting preference, and tolerability to DEL and BT currently used in the IRS. In particular, if there exist any changes in behaviors for survival of local Anopheles vectors to the currently used pyrethroids, further study would better address the dynamics of local Anopheles vector populations adapted to physiochemical environment of the MRP ecotope and insecticide susceptibility of responsible Anopheles vectors that serve as key determinants of malaria risks [25–27]. This would reflect effective vector surveillance and control of residual malaria parasite transmission in receptive environment such as rubber plantations, in addition to what are recommended by WHO [13, 34].

Abbreviations

ANOVA: | Analysis of variance
BT: | Bifenthrin
DEL: | Deltamethrin
IRS: | Indoor residual spraying
ITNs: | Insecticide-treated nets
LLINs: | Long-lasting insecticidal nets
MRP: | Malaria-associated rubber plantations
NMCP: | National malaria control program
ODPC: | Office of disease prevention and control
UTM: | Universal transverse mercator
VBDC: | Vector-borne disease control center
WHO: | World Health Organization.

Data Availability

The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that the study had no conflicts of interest.

Authors’ Contributions

Suntorn Pimnon and Adisak Bhumiratana conceived the study design, conducted the study investigation, collected the data and information, analyzed the data, drafted the manuscript, and contributed to the revised manuscript. Adisak Bhumiratana also managed the data and graphic designs and revised and finally edited the manuscript.

Acknowledgments

This study was partially supported financially by the China Medical Board (CMB)-Mahidol University Fund, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University Thailand. The authors would like to thank the entomological survey team from the ODPC 6 Chonburi (Dr. Wanapa Ritthison) and the VBDC 6.4 Trat (Mr. Suneet Pumanee, Mrs. Yupin Warrashut, and Mr. Anusart Jiteng) for their support in collection and identification of Anopheles vectors. The authors also thank Mr. Rungsak Chookumpang, Head of the Vector Borne Disease Unit 6.4.3 Bo Rai, and Mr. Siwarang Sangthong, Head of the VBDC 6.4 Trat, for their support in the IRS implementation and evaluation throughout the study. Also, special thanks are due to Mrs. Nongnuch Thongbunma for providing work stations during the field works, as well as to Dr. Surachart Koyadun, Dr. Pannamas Maneekan, and Dr. Wanapa Ritthison for their support in general guidance and scientific criticisms.

Supplementary Materials

Table S1: effects of IRS on the abundances (outdoor versus indoor densities) of night-biting An. dirus, An. minimus, and An. campestris. (Supplementary Materials)

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