ABSTRACT
Malaria transmission is accomplished by the innate behavioural trait of mosquitoes to ingest vertebrate blood required for egg production. As human malaria parasites are, by definition, circulating between humans and certain anopheline species, dis ruption of mosquito-human contact will effectively inhibit transmission of the malaria parasite. Here we explore factors that affect mosquito-host interactions to assess how this process can be exploited to reduce malaria transmission. Host preference in mosquitoes is genetically controlled, and it is argued that a change in host preference could result in less human biting and in reduced parasite transmission. The effect of this is being demonstrated using the vecto rial capacity equation, in which the human biting index and mosquito survival are represented. It is argued that effective malaria control strategies should be based on a reduction of human biting preference coupled with reduced survival. Strategic interventions based on behavioural manipulation and ecological change may affect the biting fraction of the vector population to such an extent that the vectorial capacity is significantly affected. In some cases this may require genetic modification of organisms (GMO) technology, but mechanical or physical techniques should also be considered.
