Anopheles kleini, Anopheles pullus, and Anopheles sinensis: potential vectors of Plasmodium vivax in the Republic of Korea.

Anopheles sinensis Wiedemann (63.3%) was the most abundant Anopheles mosquito captured at cowshed resting collections in malaria high-risk areas (northern Gyeonggi Province) near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Korea during 2005, followed by Anopheles kleini Rueda (24.7%) and Anopheles pullus M. Yamada (8.7%). At cowshed resting collections in malaria low-risk areas (Jeonnam and Gyeongnam provinces), An. sinensis accounted for 96.8% of all Anopheles spp. collected, followed by An. kleini Rueda (2.7%), whereas no An. pullus were collected. Three species, An. kleini (50.9%), An. pullus (29.0%), and An. sinensis (13.8%), accounted for nearly all of the 224 Anopheles spp. captured by New Jersey light trap near the DMZ. In addition, An. pullus and An. kleini captured by New Jersey light trap near the DMZ and assayed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite antigen concentrations were higher than An. sinensis sensu stricto (s.s.), indicating higher levels of sporozoites. In laboratory studies of four concurrent artificial membrane feedings on malaria-infected blood from patients, F1 progeny of An. kleini and An. pullus had higher infection rates (8.8 and 7.5%, respectively) than An. sinensis s.s. (4.2%). These data suggest that An. kleini and An. pullus and An. sinensis are vectors of malaria in Korea. Further studies are required to determine the role of these species in the transmission of P. vivax in the Republic of Korea.