Understanding the effects of landscape and biodiversity on dynamics of malaria transmission

• Grant number: 12/09939-5
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): August 01, 2012
• Effective date (End): October 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Entomology and Malacology of Parasites and Vectors
• Principal researcher: Maria Anice Mureb Sallum
• Grantee: Gabriel Zorello Laporta
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Saúde Pública (FSP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Malaria in Atlantic Forest is hypoendemic and, assuming that erradication of this disease is a challenge, its low endemic status is desirable in the point-of-view of public health. However, recent evidence (e.g., asymptomatic infections) show that the low number of autochthonous cases represent tip of the iceberg. Understanding the effects of landscape and biodiversity is important to help prevent malaria outbreaks. Here, the general objective is to investigate dynamics of malaria transmission. The specific objectives are to: a) verify infections of Plasmodium malariae, P. vivax and P. falciparum in Anopheles cruzii and Anopheles marajoara; b) propose mathematical model of malaria transmission; and c) verify correlations between dynamics of malaria transmission and landscape characteristics. In the first year, collections of Culicidae in Vale do Ribeira, São Paulo State and detection of malaria parasites in these samples will be performed. In the second year, analyses using mathematical modelling and landscape epidemiology will be employed to test effects of 1) abundance of nonvector species, 2) interaction of forest and non-forest habitats, 3) area of forestedge, and 4) level of forest connectivity, in the dynamics of malaria transmission. Results will be disseminated to academic community by means of congresses and articles. Another result is implementation of a research group in landscape epidemiology. Overall, results of the present work may be useful for the improvement of blood donation rules, and to the design of restoration plans of native forest. (AU)

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

LAPORTA, GABRIEL ZORELLO; BURATTINI, MARCELO NASCIMENTO; LEVY, DEBORA; FUKUYA, LINAH AKEMI; PORANGABA DE OLIVEIRA, TATIANE MARQUES; FERREIRA MASELLI, LUCIANA MORGANTI; CONN, JAN EVELYN; MASSAD, EDUARDO; BYDLOWSKI, SERGIO PAULO; MUREB SALLUM, MARIA ANICE. Plasmodium falciparum in the southeastern Atlantic forest: a challenge to the bromeliad-malaria paradigm?. Malaria Journal, v. 14, APR 25 2015. Web of Science Citations: 12.

LAPORTA, GABRIEL ZORELLO; SALLUM, MARIA ANICE MUREB. Coexistence mechanisms at multiple scales in mosquito assemblages. BMC ECOLOGY, v. 14, NOV 11 2014. Web of Science Citations: 10.

MASELLI, LUCIANA M. F.; LEVY, DEBORA; LAPORTA, GABRIEL Z.; MONTEIRO, ALINE M.; FUKUYA, LINAH A.; FERREIRA-DA-CRUZ, MARIA F.; DANIEL-RIBEIRO, CLAUDIO T.; DORLHIAC-LLACER, PEDRO E.; SALLUM, MARIA ANICE M.; BYDLOWSKI, SERGIO P. Detection of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax subclinical infection in non-endemic region: implications for blood transfusion and malaria epidemiology. Malaria Journal, v. 13, JUN 6 2014. Web of Science Citations: 21.

LAPORTA, GABRIEL ZORELLO; KNEGT LOPEZ DE PRADO, PAULO INACIO; KRAENKEL, ROBERTO ANDRE; COUTINHO, RENATO MENDES; MUREB SALLUM, MARIA ANICE. Biodiversity Can Help Prevent Malaria Outbreaks in Tropical Forests. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, v. 7, n. 3 MAR 2013. Web of Science Citations: 26.