M. Shahabuddin et A. Costero, Spatial distribution of factors that determine sporogonic development of malaria parasites in mosquitoes, INSEC BIO M, 31(3), 2001, pp. 231-240
Mosquitoes transmit malaria, but only a few species permit the complete dev
elopment and transmission of the parasite., Also, only a fraction of the in
gested parasites develop in the vector. The attrition occurs in different c
ompartments during the parasite's complex developmental scheme in the insec
t. A number of factors, both physical and biochemical, that affect the deve
lopment have been proposed or demonstrated. Each of these factors is locate
d within a specific space in the insect. We have divided this space into si
x compartments, which are distinct in their biochemical and biophysical nat
ure: Endoperitrophic space, Peritrophic matrix, Ectopretrophic space, Midgu
t epithelium, Haemocoel and Salivary gland. Because factors that influence
a particular stage of parasite development share the same microenvironment
within these compartments, they must be considered collectively to exploit
them for designing effective transmission blocking strategies. In this arti
cle we discuss these factors according to their spatial location in the mos
quito. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.