As part of an on-going malaria surveillance effort conducted by the Korea Center for Disease Concectration & Prevention (KCDC), a total of anopheline mosquitoes was tested for the presence of Plasmodium vavax 18s protein. Mosquitoes were collected (using black light traps) from 2 quarantine stations (Kimpo branch office of Incheon Airport National quarantine station, Paju city and Sokcho branch office of Donghae National quarantine station, Goseong county), identified to species, and tested by PCR for the presence of P. vivax 18s protein. The quarantine stations is located near de-militarized zone in Republic of Korea . A total of 140 Anopheles bellene, 3 An. lesteri, 153 An. pullus, 238 An. kleini, and 1,523 An. sinensis was tested. Two Anopheles bellene, Seven An. kleini, and Nineteen An. sinensis were positive for P. vivax 18s protein. Anopheles sinensis is the predominent Anopheline mosquito encountered in the northern part of the ROK and is a known malaria vector. Other potential vectors include An. lesteri Baisas & Hu and An. yatsushiroensis Miyazaki. Anopheles bellene haven't been reported as vector of malaria until now. However, in this study, positive results were detected from An. bellene collected at Paju city and Goseong county, 27 May and 22 Jun, respectively. Anopheles bellene as potential vector of P. vivax might be further studied.

• Kyu-Sik Chang(Division of Medical Entomology, National Institute of Health)
• EHyun Shin(Division of Medical Entomology, National Institute of Health)
• YoungMi Choi(Division of Medical Entomology, National Institute of Health)
• Chan Park(Division of Medical Entomology, National Institute of Health)