Malaria Eradication in Ceylon

Abstract

ONE of the most important vectors of malaria in India, and the only vector so far reported in Ceylon, is A. culicifacies. Afridi and Puri¹ reviewed the available literature relating to this species in India. Covell² lists the countries where this mosquito has been found, its breeding places, adult habits and relation to malaria. In India, this is reported to be a domestic species. James and Gunasekera³ were the first to find this species infected in Nature in Ceylon. Carter and Jacocks⁴ confirmed these findings. During the various regional epidemics that occurred in Ceylon during and since 1934, this was the only anopheline species found infected with malarial parasites. According to Carter (unpublished reports), A. culicifacies in Ceylon is domestic in its habits and has been captured in dwellings and in human-baited traps. It breeds profusely in the sand pools and rock pools in the beds of streams and rivers. The breeding places so far described were in the close vicinity of human habitations.