Malaria vectors and transmission in an area deforested for a new international airport in southern Cameroon.

Abstract

Nsimalen, a village in Southern Cameroon, has been deforested over a surface of 370 hectares for the construction of the new Yaounde international airport (Cameroon). Mosquitoes night catches on human bait were performed over a year in two hamlets of this village, one adjoining the airport and the other situated 3 kilometers off the deforested area. The aim of the survey was to observe malaria vectors and transmission around the airport and to record malaria epidemiological changes resulting from deforestation. The findings showed that the main malaria vector was Anopheles moucheti (95% of the vector population). Anopheles gambiae was also present but in very small quantities. The increased density of the latter near the airport combined with the low parity rates, indicated that deforestation favoured the breeding of this species. Malaria transmission was estimated at 106 and 68 infective bites per man per year in hamlets close to and far away from the airport zone respectively. An. gambiae accounted for 13% of the transmission in the hamlet adjoining the airport and 0% three kilometers off the airport.