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Biomedical subjects

A Gabaldon

Publications and source records attributed to A Gabaldon.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1980

Holoendemicity of malaria: an avian model.

In the Llanos (Flatlands) of Venezuela a high malaria parasite rate was found in nesting birds, mainly in many species of Ciconiiformes, in contrast to a very low one in adults. Species of Plasmodium in birds of this order have seldom been reported. The high densities and sporozoite rates of the local vector, Aedeomyia squamipennis, and the increasing parasite rates with age, suggest a great intensity of transmission, leading to 100% infection by the time the young birds leave their nests. The situation is regarded as a form of holoendemicity equivalent to that described in man in certain parts of Africa and elsewhere, which also produces a high mortality and is probably the cause of population control. Double and triple infections of different subgenera of Plasmodium were extremely frequent, and probably also of different species in the same sub-genus. Such mixed infections with high densities of parasites suggest the possibility of hybridization, and the presence of hybrids may explain the difficulties in the identification of many of the isolates.

Aedes↗
PubMed1978

What can and cannot be achieved with conventional anti-malaria measures.

Malaria eradication has been based on interception of the vectors through the spraying of houses with DDT. With proper strategy and adequate execution this goal should be achieved in the extensive areas where the vector is responsive to the insecticide, but in large regions where it is refractory other conventional measures against the vectors are more costly and cannot produce eradication. In such cases new ways should be sought to tackle the other primary epidemiological factors--the parasite and the susceptible human being. There is so far no drug which can eliminate the parasites from man with one or two doses and that has a long-lasting protective effect against new infections, the two conditions required for effectiveness in the field. The development of a vaccine to protect susceptible human beings is the other possibility being explored at the present time. Let us hope that such a vaccine may become available.

Animals↗