HOST CHOICE OF ANOPHELINE MOSQUITOS IN A MALARIA ENDEMIC AREA OF WESTERN VENEZUELA

Bloodmeals of exophilic anopheline mosquitoes collected resting on veg etation in a malaria endemic area in western Venezuela were identified by ELISA. Using a TMB peroxidase substrate in the ELISA, human bloodm eals were readily identified up to 40 h after ingestion in all laborat ory-fed mosquitoes tested. Assay sensitivity declined to 75% identifia ble 44 h post-feeding. The Human Blood Index and the Feeding Index of each species differed between the three villages studied. An.triannula tus was generally more anthropophilic than An.nuneztovari and An.oswal doi. These contrasting results emphasize the difficulties of interpret ing host choice data.