Malaria vector studies in two ecological zones in southern Ghana

A two-year longitudinal malaria vector study was carried out in two communi ties, Dodowa and Prampram, located in the coastal forest and coastal savann ah zones, respectively, of the Dangme West district of Ghana. Anopheles gam bine s.l. Giles was most prevalent in both study areas, followed by An. fun estus Giles in Dodowa and An. pharoensis Theobald in Prampram. Anopheles ga mbiae s.s. occurred in sympatry with An, melas Theobald in Prampram. Small numbers of An. nili Theobald, An, hancocki Edwards, All. coustani Laveran, An. moucheti Evans and An. hargreavesi Evans were collected in Dodowa and t heir role in transmission was negligible, Anopheles gambiae s.l. and An. fu nestus were found to be the major human-biting species in Dodowa, while An. gambiae s.l. and An, pharoensis were the most common biting mosquitoes in Prampram. The overall biting rate of the anophelines at Dodowa was twice th at at Prampram. Anopheles gambiae s.l. and An. funestus were identified as the main vectors of malaria by salivary gland dissections. Overall mean inf ectivity rate of both species was approximately 2.5 times higher at Ddowa t han at Prampram. Anopheles pharoensis was not found to be infected with Pla smodium parasites. The intensity of malaria transmission at Dodowa, the coa stal forest area, was about six times higher than Prampram, the coastal sav anna area. Some aspects of control strategies are discussed.