Study of the effect of cattle on malaria transmission in the locality of Massavasse – district of Chókwè, province of Gaza, Mozambique

Abstract

Zooprophylaxis is a strategy used to control the disease upon the use of animals and has been shown to be effective in some countries. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of cattle on malaria transmission in the locality of Massavasse, district of Chóckwè. Mosquitoes were collected in houses with corrals and without corrals at night using light traps and tent traps. Species were classified using morphological keys, infection rates (IR) were determined using an ELISA and differences between houses with corrals and without corrals were statistically analyzed by χ2 test. The results show that significant statistical differences do not exist in the infection rates between the mosquitoes of the An. funestus complex from the houses with corrals (0.92% ± 0.64% n = 217), the houses without corrals (0.47% ± 0. 47% n = 211), and (P = 0.51; Fisher's exact test) captured through tent traps. The same was observed pertaining to the specimens captured through light traps between houses with corrals (2.3% ± 1.3% n = 130) and houses without corrals (1.67% ± 1.17% n = 120) (P = 0.54; Fisher's exact test). None of the 616 mosquitoes of the An. gambiae complex (An. arabiensis) were found positive in houses with or without a corral. However, of the 678 analyzed mosquitoes of the species An. funestus, 8 were found infected. These results indicate that An. funestus was the main malaria vector during the period of this study. The fact that any infected An. arabiensis mosquitoes were found suggest that they can feed on cattle. However, more detailed studies are needed to assess the potential use of cattle for malaria zooprophylaxis under the specific conditions of Mozambique.