Summary

In this study session, you have learned that:

• Malaria is a major public health problem in the world, Africa and Ethiopia, affecting millions of people each year.
• The malaria parasite is transmitted from person to person by the bite of female mosquitoes.
• The parasite is taken by the mosquito when feeding on an infected person.
• The parasite develops and multiplies in the mosquito body and the cycle takes about 10 days, depending on the temperature.
• The parasites are injected into humans when the mosquito bites.
• Studying the life cycle of the malaria parasite that causes human malaria makes understanding the pathology, signs, symptoms and treatment of the disease easier.
• Water collections are important for vector breeding.
• Malaria is transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes only; the larvae of Anopheles mosquitoes can be easily distinguished from other non-vector mosquitoes.
• A female Anopheles mosquito needs to feed on blood to develop its eggs and reproduce.
• The life cycle of the malaria vector from egg to adult takes 8 to 12 days, depending on temperature.
• The vectors bite people from dusk to dawn.
• The vectors can bite people indoors or outdoors.
• The vectors feeding indoors are likely to spend some time resting inside houses after taking a blood meal.
• Understanding the behaviour of the vector is important to plan preventive measures.