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Reduced mosquito survival in metal-roof houses may contribute to a decline in malaria transmission in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract:
In The Gambia, metal-roof houses were hotter during the day than thatched-roof houses. After 24 h, the mortality of Anopheles gambiae, the principal African malaria vector, was 38% higher in metal-roof houses than thatched ones. During the day, mosquitoes in metal-roof houses moved from the hot roof to cooler places near the floor, where the temperature was still high, reaching 35 °C. In laboratory studies, at 35 °C few mosquitoes survived 10 days, the minimum period required for malaria parasite development. Analysis of epidemiological data showed there was less malaria and lower vector survival rates in Gambian villages with a higher proportion of metal roofs. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the indoor climate of metal-roof houses, with higher temperatures and lower humidity, reduces survivorship of indoor-resting mosquitoes and may have contributed to the observed reduction in malaria burden in parts of sub-Saharan Africa.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1038/s41598-019-43816-0

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Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-8628-6040


Publisher:
Springer Nature
Journal:
Scientific Reports More from this journal
Volume:
9
Article number:
7770
Publication date:
2019-05-23
Acceptance date:
2019-04-27
DOI:
EISSN:
2045-2322
Pmid:
31123317


Language:
English
Pubs id:
pubs:1019630
UUID:
uuid:51d0c83d-d2b1-4fdc-ae7b-b9efc34a2ae6
Local pid:
pubs:1019630
Source identifiers:
1019630
Deposit date:
2019-07-15

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