P008. Bionomics of Anopheles pseudopunctipennis in a malaria-endemic region of northern Mexico

Abstract

Malaria remains a significant public health concern in Mexico, with persistent transmission hotspots in both the southern and northern states. The Tarahumara region in the Sierra Madre Occidental of Chihuahua continues to experience malaria outbreaks due to environmental and socio-economic factors. However, entomological data on anopheline mosquitoes in these areas are limited. This study evaluated key bionomic traits of Anopheles pseudopunctipennis in the community of San José de Valenzuela, an active malaria focus. Human landing catches were conducted from July to September 2024, with sampling from 19:00 to 06:00 h over 29 nights. A total of 756 females were collected; 658 were dissected for parity analysis. Of these, 68.8% were parous, 30.4% nulliparous, and 24.6% were considered pregravid. The gonotrophic cycle and daily survivorship were estimated at 3 days and 0.88, respectively, using ARIMA models and nonlinear optimization. The mean biting rate was 1.17 ± 0.15 bites/person/hour, with peak activity between 01:00 and 02:00 h. These findings provide critical insights into the reproductive biology and biting behavior of An. pseudopunctipennis, representing the first comprehensive entomological study in this northern malaria focus. This information is essential for designing vector surveillance and control strategies for this region.