Malaria investigation in District Jodhpur, Rajasthan, during the summer season.

Studies were carried out in District Jodhpur of the Thar region of Rajasthan. Epidemiological investigation revealed high slide positivity rate in the canal irrigated area (54.5 per cent), sand dunes area (67.54 per cent), stone quarry area (26.66 per cent) and in the desert plain area (41.5 per cent). Similarly, slide falciparum rates were 7.10, 4.38, 6.66 and 5.6 per cent respectively. Entomological studies showed An. stephensi and An. culicifacies as major species and their densities ranged between 2 to 14.58 and 0 to 0.9 pmh respectively. Resistance in malaria vectors to insecticides, poor surveillance and suppressive treatment of cases appear to be the factors for persistent transmission in the study area.