The proportion of mosquito blood-meals that are of human origin, referred to as the 'human blood index' or HBI, is a key determinant of malaria transmission. We conducted a systematic review of the HBI for the major African malaria vectors. Evidence is presented for higher HBI among Anopheles gambiae (M/S forms and An. coluzzii/An. gambiae s.s. are not distinguished for most studies and therefore combined) as well as An. funestus when compared with An. arabiensis (prevalence odds ratio adjusted for whether mosquitoes were caught indoors and outdoors: 1.61 95%CI 1.08-2.39; 1.84 95%CI 1.35-2.52, respectively). This finding is in keeping with the entomological literature which describes An. arabiensis to be more zoophagic than the other major African vectors. However, metaanalysis also revealed that HBI was more associated with location of mosquito captures (indoors versus outdoors, R 2 =0.3) than with mosquito (sibling/) species (R 2 =0.11), and that this difference was significant (p<0.01). Some of the more important consequences of mosquito biting behaviour are discussed in the context of new theoretical and empirical developments that may improve both HBI assessment and how this metric can inform malaria control optimisation.

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Due to globalizing trend of homogenisation of culture, changes in the health care delivery system and market economics infringing on the practice of medicine, there has been a gradual shift in the attitude of the medical community as well as the lay public towards greater acceptance of euthanasia as an option for terminally ill and dying patients. Physicians in developing countries come across situations where such issues are raised with increasing frequency. As the subject has gained worldwide prominence, we want to review this topic from Islamic perspective due to its significance in medical ethics and clinical practice.

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