The diagnostics and treatment of tropical diseasesStitt, E. R. (Edward Rhodes)
Science
The diagnostics and treatment of tropical diseases
Stitt, E. R. (Edward Rhodes)
Tropical medicine
Our views as to temperature requirements for the development of
zygotes in the mosquito must be changed as King has recently shown
that _P. vivax_ sporonts will survive exposure to temperatures of
30°F. for two days and _P. falciparum_ temperatures of 35°F. for one
day. This proves that temperatures approximating freezing ones will
fail to destroy the parasites of hibernating mosquitoes.
Wenyon has found experimentally that mosquitoes which had fed on
malarial blood and kept at incubator temperatures for a week to
allow development of zygotes showed inhibition of development of
zygotes when kept at temperatures corresponding to hibernating
ones. This treatment did not kill the zygotes but complete
development took place when subsequently the mosquitoes were again
subjected to incubator temperatures. From this it would seem that
the zygotes remain viable during the winter hibernation. This is
at variance with Mitzmain’s views who regarded hibernation as
destructive to zygotes.
[Illustration: FIG. 13.—Anatomy of the mosquito. No. 6 shows various
types of scales.]
The mosquito does not seem to suffer from her malarial
infection—quite different from the serious affection that filariasis
causes in the mosquito.
=Epidemiology.=—This matter has been considered rather extensively
under the historical and etiological discussions.
It may be stated however that the requirements for the spread of
malaria are: (1) Men who have sexual forms of the malarial parasite
in their peripheral circulation; (2) efficient anopheline hosts, and
(3) an atmospheric temperature above 60°F. (16°C.).
[Illustration: FIG. 14.—_Anopheles maculipennis (quadrimaculatus)_,
female. (_Castellani and Chalmers, after Austen._) From P. H.
Reports.]
It is a well recognized fact in the tropics that the natives
seem to have an immunity to malaria yet may carry parasites in
their circulation and serve as carriers. The native children to
a striking degree harbour parasites and to them malaria is a
prime cause of death. After repeated infections, if not fatal, a
temporary immunity is acquired. Many localities in the tropics
owe freedom from malaria to an absence of anophelines, as for
instance Barbadoes. Again malaria-bearing mosquitoes may acquire
the habit of feeding on animal blood other than that of man. It is
well recognized that rural populations are more liable to malaria
than those of towns and as the population of a country moves to
the industrial centres human blood may become difficult to obtain
and the anophelines turn to other sources of blood supply. It has
been suggested that mosquitoes may suffer from other infections
which may be inimical to the development of malarial zygotes (black
spores of Ross). Anophelines bite chiefly at sunset and at night
from which fact there would seem to be some value in shutting the
windows towards nightfall as is the custom in many malarious parts
of the world.
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