Volume 7, Number 6—December 2001
Perspective
Could Malaria Reappear in Italy?
Roberto Romi*
, Guido Sabatinelli*†, and Giancarlo Majori*
, Guido Sabatinelli*†, and Giancarlo Majori*
Table 1
Distribution and density of Anopheles labranchiae and An. superpictus in five regions of central, southern, and insular Italy
| Region | At-risk areas | Vector | Larval breeding sitesa | Vector density and capacityb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscany | Grosseto province: areas of intensive rice cultivation (S. Carlo, Principina and S. Donato, Orbetello) | An.labranchiae | Rice fields, agricultural and land reclamation canals, wells. Larval densities in rice fields 5-10 larvae/sample, elsewhere 0.5-1 larvae/sample | 100-1,000 per animal shelter; 180-200/person /night. VC in rice fields: P. falc. 7-26; P. vivax 8.3-32.5; VC in natural breeding sites: P. falc. 0.8-2.9; P. vivax 0.96-3.3 |
| Apulia | Coastal plains of the Adriatic side, from Lesina Lake to Candelaro River | An.labranchiae | Land reclamation canals, pools for agricultural purposes. Larval densities 0.02 -0.05 larvae/sample | 20-30 per animal shelter |
| Calabria | Coastal plains of the Tirrenian and Ionian sides and the close hinterland | An. labranchiae An. superpictus | Larval densities: An. labranchiae 0.1- 1 larvae/sample An. superpictus 0.06-0.1 larvae/sample | 20-500 An. labranchiae, 2-10 An. superpictus per animal shelter. 10-20 An.labr./person/ night. VC of An. labranchiae for P. falciparum 0.8-8.9 |
| Sicily | Rural coastal and hilly areas of the whole region | An. labranchiae An. superpictus | Rivers, streams, pools, and canals for agricultural purposes. Larval densities of An. labranchiae 0.03 to 0.5 larvae/sample | 10-200 An. labranchiae per animal shelter |
| Sardinia | Rural coastal and hilly areas of the whole region | An. labranchiae | Mainly rivers and streams; ponds, artificial pools, rice fields and irrigation canals. Larval densities 1 to 10 larvae/sample | 5-40 per animal shelter |
aFigures refer to areas considered as "at risk" for malaria reintroduction during surveys carried out from 1994 to 1996.
bCalculated at a mean temperature of 25°C (July to August), assuming a sporogonic cycle of 11 days for P. falciparum and 10 days for P. vivax. VC = vectorial capacity.
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