~ 678 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2017; 5(1): 678-682 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 JEZS 2017; 5(1): 678-682 © 2017 JEZS Received: 01-11-2016 Accepted: 02-12-2016 Shafiqur Rahman Abbottabad University of Science and Technology Havelian KPK, Pakistan Fazal Jalil Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan KPK, Pakistan Hidayat Khan (A) Abbottabad University of Science and Technology Havelian KPK, Pakistan (B) Kohat University of Science and Technology Kohat, KPK, Pakistan Muhammad Ayub Jadoon Abbottabad University of Science and Technology Havelian KPK, Pakistan Ikram ullah Abbottabad University of Science and Technology Havelian KPK, Pakistan Mujaddadur Rehman Abbottabad University of Science and Technology Havelian KPK, Pakistan Abdul MAjeed Khan Abbottabad University of Science and Technology Havelian KPK, Pakistan Adnan khan Abbottabad University of Science and Technology Havelian KPK, Pakistan Azam Hayat Abbottabad University of Science and Technology Havelian KPK, Pakistan Zaffar Iqbal Abbottabad University of Science and Technology Havelian KPK, Pakistan Correspondence Ikram ullah Abbottabad University of Science and Technology Havelian KPK, Pakistan Prevalence of Malaria in district Shangla, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan Shafiqur Rahman, Fazal Jalil, Hidayat Khan, Muhammad Ayub Jadoon, Ikram Ullah, Mujaddadur Rehman, Abdul Majeed Khan, Adnan Khan, Azam Hayat and Zaffar Iqbal Abstract Malaria is one of the major health problems caused by a vector-borne eukaryotic protist of the genus plasmodium. Plasmodium is a parasite which is transmitted naturally by the bite of a female mosquito anopheles called malarial vectors. The present study was aimed to determine the prevalence of malaria in local population of District Shangla, Swat (KPK-Pakistan). A questionnaire was designed to collect the demographic and clinical information of the study subjects. A total of 1336 study subjects, expected to have malarial symptoms, were included in this study during the June to August, 2014. The identification of malarial parasite was carried out by using both Rapid Diagnosis Test (RDT) method and microscopic examination. After proceeding for clinical diagnosis, out of the total (n=1336) 187 (13.99%) samples were found positive for malarial parasite and 1149 (86.01%) were found negative. The malarial infection was found more common in males (112; 65.24%) as compare to females (65; 34.76%) in the study population. The month wise distribution of malaria in the present study indicated that malarial cases were high in the month of August (15.19%) followed by July (14.82%). Furthermore, the most prevalent age group for malaria in the study sample set was Group B (51.34%) followed by Group A (33.68%). However, 98.93% of the cases had P. Vivax and other malarial parasites like P. ovale and P. malariae were not detected in this study. Keywords: Female mosquito Anaphele, P. Ovale, P. Malariae, P. Vivax, Plasmodium 1. Introduction Malaria is one of the most common leading causes of morbidity and mortality on the earth surface, cause by the vector-borne eukaryotic protist of the genus Plasmodium [1] . Plasmodium is a parasite which is transmitted naturally by the bite of a female mosquito anopheles called malarial vectors [2] . The mosquito has more than 3,000 species in which about 100 are the vectors of human diseases. For the development of her eggs, the anopheles takes a blood feed to provide nutrient and transmit the disease in the form of parasite. The parasite is a unicellular microorganism which is different from bacteria and viruses, which has a cell, nucleus and more complex life cycle. Plasmodium parasite has different types which are Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium Malariae and Plasmodium knowlesi [3] . It is found in both tropical and subtropical regions including some parts of America, Asia, and Africa. P.falciparum and P.vivax are mostly common in all over the world. In Pakistan P. falciparum and P. vivax malaria are the major health problems and the leading cause of death.The dangerous form of malaria which is caused by P. falciparum is mostly found in Africa, whereas P.vivax is found worldwide but is less dangerous [4] . Historically malaria has been predicted since ancient time. From the start Egyptians wrote about it on papyrus and were described it in detail by Hippocrates (famous Greek physician). With the decline of the Roman Empire malaria hide intemperate climates of ancient Rome. People were blaming about the unhealthiness on decline and rot that float out on awful air. However, the name malaria is derived from the Italian word, “mal aria,” or bad air. The French scientist Alphonse Laveran discovered single-celled parasite “plasmodium” and suggest that plasmodium is the cause of malaria. Twenty years later, scientists discovered Anopheles mosquitoes in India and Italy and showed that this mosquito is responsible for the transmission of malaria [5] . Malarial parasite (Plasmodium) has a very complicated life cycle. This parasite depends on both human and insect host. Plasmodium reproduces sexually in Anopheles mosquitoes while in human it reproduces asexually.