Anopheles

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Title of the Project:	An Integrated forecasting system to predict the outbreak of malaria and expert system for the identification of vectors in Assam.
Sponsor of the Project:	Defence Research Laboratory (DRL) Ministry of Defence (MoD) – Government of India (GoI).
Period:	2001-2002 ( Total Budget : Rs. 30 Lakhs)
Patent / Copyright:	Filed
Objective of the Project:	To develop an illustrated computer-based, interactive key and information system for the rapid identification of 54 species of Indian Anopheline mosquitoes.
Description of the Project:	Key to identify 54 species of Indian Anopheline mosquitoes is a set of pages designed using ID3 algorithm in HTML and Java Script format for developing ANAMOS VERSION 1.0.1, an interactive program for identifying a specimen by comparing its attributes with stored descriptions of taxa. The key is designed to help the novice learn to identify malarial vectors in India
Need for the Project – The Problem:	Anophelines are the vectors for malarial disease and over the last 10 years, the number of malarial cases have been increasing in many areas of the world. More than 2000 million people from 100 countries now live in areas where there is a definite risk of malaria (Benzerragh ,1991). In 1998, the number of malarial cases was 1854830 and there has been a steady increase ever since reaching a staggering 2099154 cases in 1992 (NMEP directorate ,1993). In India and developing countries, the problem has become serious with frequent out breaks of malaria and other mosquito carrying diseases. Identification of vector is the primary requisite in the control program. It is highly essential to identify the vector responsible for the outbreak . so that one can carry out systematic and need-based control operations on time. A computerized system that could be utilized for the accurate identification of an unknown species is highly desirable in such situations.
Deliverables of the Project - The Solution:	The identification of mosquito vectors still relies on expert microscopic examination of morphological characters listed in keys. As such, mosquito identification is at relatively greater risk of observer's error. Hence, an integrated software ANAMOS VERSION 1.0.1 has been developed to facilitate Medical Entomologists, Doctors, Public Health Workers, NGOs and health authorities of both State and Central Government agencies. Development and use of ANAMOS VERSION 1.0.1 would allow easier identification of Indian Anophelines for control and monitoring and ensuring that vector identification is kept at world's best standards.
Salient features of the Project:	This software is the first of its kind - to predict & forecast the out break. This Web – Enabled Expert System is user-friendly . Even a novice can make use of the system in the identification of the unknown species with a little practice.
Future Spin offs of the Project:	It would also be interesting to explore the possibility of application of these web-enabled expert systems to new areas of interest relating to taxonomic problems.
Courtesy:	The ANAMOS VERSION 1.0.1 is developed based on the pictorial key of Dr. Binapani Das et al, 1982. We are grateful to Director, National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), Delhi, India for his permission to use the pictorial key of Dr. Das.