Posted: June 16, 2017
Matt Thomas, professor of entomology, and Jessica Waite, postdoctoral scholar in entomology, published a paper in the January 16 issue of Scientific Reports in which they examine the relationship between mosquitoes and cattle on human malaria occurrence.
What They Found
In Odisha, India, where malaria incidence is high, malaria mosquitoes often live in cattle sheds and feed on both cows and humans, as opposed to feeding solely on humans, which is more typical.
Why it Matters
Cattle sheds are often next to, and sometimes even connected by, a shared wall to human houses, increasing mosquitoes' accessibility to humans. Current control efforts are restricted to domestic dwellings only.
What They Recommend
Extending control methods to better target mosquitoes that feed on both humans and cattle; for example, by broadening coverage of non-repellent insecticide sprays to include cattle sheds.
--Sara LaJeunesse