Systematic review of Anopheles abundance and meta-analysis of nonhuman primate malaria infection in mosquitoes in Thailand.

Abstract

Thailand has achieved significant progress in malaria elimination, with a reduction in annual parasite incidence from 0.53 to 0.22 per thousand in 2014 and 2024, respectively. Given the high diversity of Anopheles mosquito species, elimination efforts must be precisely targeted, taking into account the varied behaviors and vectorial capacities of different vector species. This study aims to systematically review and update the distribution, identification, bionomics, behavior, and a meta-analysis of nonhuman parasite infectivity among mosquitoes. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, EBSCOhost, and Google Scholar (2013-2025) to identify studies on Anopheles species diversity, distribution, and zoonotic malaria infection in mosquitoes. The meta-analysis followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and was carried out using the metafor package in R. A total of 92 relevant papers were included from 811 accessed articles. Of these, most documented geographical distribution, followed by mosquito behaviors, molecular identification, and mosquito infectivity. The pooled mosquito infection prevalence for the present meta-analysis was 0.01 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.00-0.03), indicating low nonhuman primate (NHP) malaria parasite infectivity. Using standard nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), wild-caught Anopheles sawadwongporni, An. minimus, and An. dirus were incriminated as zoonotic malaria vectors, with a pooled infection prevalence of 0.2%. This review highlights a critical need for targeted, context-specific vector control interventions that address the unique opportunistic feeding and resting behaviors of Anopheles species complexes and the bionomics of local vector species, alongside the high mobility of high-risk populations. Research involving hosts and vectors across different micro-spatial and temporal scales, observations of human behavior, and monkey-human interactions is needed to improve understanding of zoonotic malaria transmission.