DISTRIBUTION OF PLASMODIUM SPECIES AND ITS ASSOCIATED VECTORS IN DIFFERENT ALTITUDES OF DISTRICT DIR LOWER PAKISTAN

Malaria exists in epidemic form in 109 countries including Pakistan. The aim of present study was to assess the prevalence of Plasmodium species and its vectors in various altitudes of district Dir Lower, Pakistan. For this purpose, mosquitoes were collected from three different sites on the basis of altitude differences of district Dir Lower. Adult mosquitos were collected from human dwelling areas, animal rooms, rivers, farming field areas, streams, by using nets, various types of traps and sprays from January, 2021 to December, 2021. Data for prevalence of malaria was collected from District health office of Dir Lower and DHQ Timergara. A total of 9217 mosquito specimens were collected from all sites. Four species of malaria vector were prevalent as Anopheles culicifacies 3.53%, Anopheles annularies 1.93%, Anopheles stephensi 5.17% and Anopheles maculatus 1.62% in all collected mosquitos specimens. In the same area human samples were also studied. Out of total 86632 suspected cases, only 2% (1738) cases were positive for malarial infection. A total of 1676 patients were tested positive for P. vivax and 54 patients tested positive for presence of P. falciparum while only 8 patients were tested positive for mix species of Plasmodium. The prevalence ratio of P. falciparum 3.1%, P. vivax was 94.43% and 0.46% mix species in overall positive cases. So, it is concluded that P. vivax mostly causes malaria in district Dir Lower. Anopheles stephensi was abundant among all species of Plasmodium vector. However, the abundance of malarial vectors changes at different altitudes. The anopheles mosquito was abundantly present in the areas of lower altitude sites (Chakdara and Timergara) while at high altitude areas (Laram top) anopheles mosquito is rarely found.