The use of nested-PCR to detect the presence of plasmodium in anopheles Arabiensis in Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

The present study was carried out in 26 villages at two Governates (Al-Khobah, and Haroob) in Jazan Region in Southwest Saudi Arabia to identify and detect the presence of Plasmodium in Anopheles arabiensis using nested-PCR technique.

An.

Arabiensis was identified by PCR and it was the predominant Anopheles mosquito in all the collection sites.

A total of 257 An.

Arabiensis females were collected and two samples from two villages (Almuatan and Alsabkha) out of 107 (1.87%) female mosquitoes from Haroob Governorate were found positive for the sporozoites of Plasmodium falciparum.

Similarly, 3 out of 150 (2%) female mosquito samples from Um-alkhameir, AL-Khobah Governorate, were also found positive.

Around fourfold increase of the sporozoite rate (from 0.61 to 2.0%) in An.

arabiensis in Al-Khobah Governorate has been observed compared to the previous study of 2007-2008.

The wide spread of An.

arabiensis in Jazan region with >90% of the malaria cases caused by P.

falciparum, along with infectivity rate ranges between 1.87 to 2.0% for P.

falciparum in Al-Khobah and Haroob Governorates, suggests that P.

falciparum is the most predominant malaria parasite and An.

Arabiensis is a very efficient malaria vector in the region.

It also suggests more in-depth researches on the ecology, behavior, and control of An.

Arabiensis to promote area-specific control programs