Vectors of Malaria and Filariasis in Indonesia

Malaria at present is still one of the important mosquito-borne diseases in Indonesia. The disease is widespread all over the country and involves nearly all islands. Sixteen Anopheles species have been reconfirmed as malaria vectors. They were distributed geographically as follows: Coastal areas and lagoons ----An sundizicus and An.subpictus Cultivated ricefields and swampy areas ----An.aconitus, An.barbirostris, Annigerrimus and An .sinensis Forest inland areas in shaded temporary pools, muddy animal wallows and hoof-prints ----An.balabacensis, An.bancrofti, Anfarauti, An.koliensis and Anpunctulatus Swamp forest edge in ditches with vegeta----An.1etifer and An.1udlowae tion Hilly areas in seepages, streams and clear moving water ----Anflavirostris, An.maculatus and Anminimus. The species (of most general importance is An.sundaicus, which is restricted) by its preference for brackish water and is prevalent in coastal areas of Java. Their types in behaviour of An.sundaicus appear as follows : 1. Ansumlaicus in South Coast of Java in general. This species is essentially anthropophilic, exophagic and rests outdoor. It shows susceptible to DDT. 2. An.sundaicus in Cilacap, Central Java. This mosquito is a pure anthropophilic form. It bites man in houses and outdoors, rests indoors and is known resistant to DDT. 3. An.sundaicus in Yogyakarta and Purworejo, Central Java. This mosquito is a strong zoophilic species. It rests and prefers to bite outdoors and shows tolerance to DDT. Human filariasis in Indonesia is the result of infection by three endemic species, namely, Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and Brugia timori.W.bancrofti infection is found in both urban and rural areas. Twenty species of mosquitoes are confirmed as filariasis vectors. The urban type bancroftian filariasis is transmitted by Culex quinquefasciatus, whereas the rural type is transmitted mostly by Anopheles spp., such as An.aconitus and An.punctulatus complex. The periodic species of Mansonia transmit the subperiodic noctural B.malayi. B.timori which is distributed in the Eastern part of Indonesia (East Nusa Tenggara), is transmitted by An.barbirostris. Some filariasis vectors such as An.aconitus and the An.puctulatus complex may function both as llariasis vector and malaria vector as well.