Malaria parasites are transmitted in nature through the bites of female Anopheles mosquitoes. However, the vector distribution varies in time and space. This study aimed to determine the species composition, abundance and climatic factors influencing Anopheles mosquitoes in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria from October 2016 to September 2017. Adult Anopheles mosquitoes were collected from indoor and outdoor locations using Pyrethrum Knockdown Collection (PKC) and Human Landing Catch (HLC) Methods respectively. Anopheles mosquito larvae were collected using dipping method. Morphological identification of Anopheles species was carried out using standard identification keys. Climatic data was obtained from Nigerian Meteorological Agency Office in Anambra State. A total of 8181 female Anopheles mosquitoes which comprised 4127 (50.4%) larvae and 4054 (49.6%) adults were collected (P > 0.05) in the study. Four Anopheles species: An. gambiae s. l (70.1%), An. funestus group (18.2%), An. moucheti (6.3%) and An. nili (5.4%) were identified (P < 0.05). In the study area, 2608 (31.9%), 3025 (37.0%) and 2548 (31.1%) Anopheles mosquitoes were collected from Aguleri, Igbariam and Nsugbe respectively; with 100% species overlap. In each selected selected town, the Simpson’s index of diversity was ~2 and Shannon-wiener diversity was ~1. Only An. gambiaes l showed varied seasonal abundance with wet season contributing 67.9% and dry season 32.1% of the overall An. gambiaes. l collection (P < 0.05). The correlation between rainfall and An. gambiae s. l. abundance was significantly strong (r = 0.66; P < 0.05). No significant correlation was found between Anopheles species abundance and temperature as well as relative humidity. The study revealed the preponderance of four Anopheles species: An. gambiae s. l., An. funestus, An. moucheti and An. nili; and rainfall is the only climatic factor that causes temporal change in the abundance of one of the species, An. gambiaes. l. in the study area. Keywords: Anopheles mosquitoes, abundance, temperature, rainfall, relative humidity

Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) reduce human-mosquito contact through the provision of physical barrier, repellent effect or mortality effect. This study evaluated the physical integrity and residual effect of insecticides in Perma Net® 2.0 of 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years and 4 years duration of use. Perma Net®2.0 used were obtained from systematically picked households within Ifite Awka and new Perma Net® 2.0 serving as control were collected from Society for Family Health. Adult mosquitoes were collected from picked households using Pyrethrum knockdown Collection method before the Perma Net® 2.0 were removed. The top and four sides of the nets were examined for presence of holes. Also, net pieces measuring 25cm × 25cm were obtained from Perma Net® 2.0 of different duration and subjected to WHO cone bioassay using Randomized Block Experimental Design. The Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti used for the bioassay were collected from breeding sites within Ifite Awka, reared and maintained in an insectary. There was at least one hole in 10%, 30% and 40% of LLINs with 2 years, 3years and 4 years duration of use respectively. Significant differences were found in the physical integrity of the nets (P < 0.05). Culexquinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti constituted 40.9% and 27.0% of all mosquitoes collected indoors respectively. There was no significant difference in the indoor abundance of the two mosquito species (P >0.05). However, their abundance depended on the duration of LLINs usage (P < 0.05). The mortality effects of16%, 8%, 7%, 5%, 5% and 2% on Culex quinquefasciatus were recorded for Perma Net® 2.0 of 0 month, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years and 4 years respectively. The mortality effects of 23%, 12%, 9%, 6%, 5% and 3% on Aedes aegypti were recorded for Perma Net® 2.0 of 0 month, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years and 4years respectively. The new LLINs produced significantly highest mortality effect (P < 0.05) on both mosquito species than nets of other duration of usage. The mortality effect of Perma Net® 2.0 on Culex quinquefasciatus, and that on Aedes aegypti were similar (P > 0.05). It shows that Perma Net® 2.0 offer physical barrier more than repellency and mortality effect against Culex quinquefasciatus, and Aedes aegypti.

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This study was carried out across the six geopolitical zones to assess knowledge and health seeking behaviors of Nigerians during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in order to understand the seemingly low cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria. Structured and pretested short questionnaires were employed to obtain information electronically and physically across the six geopolitical zones on socio-demographic characteristics of participants; the knowledge of participants on COVID-19 disease; availability and accessibility to testing and isolation centers in the communities, attitudes and health seeking behaviors. Atotal of 1023 respondents; 705 (68.9%) males and 318 (31.1%) females across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria participated in this study with 477(46.6%) within the 26-45 years age category, and 6(0.6%) above 66 years. Atotal of 985(96.3%) had heard about COVID-19 at the time of survey while a total of  859(84.0%) of the respondents were aware of the presence of COVID-19 laboratory testing centers. Across the geopolitical zones, majority of the respondents 487(47.6%) claimed there are no routine testing for COVID-19 at their community level, while 303 (29.6%) affirmed otherwise and 216(21.1%) did not know if there were routine testing going on or not. On health seeking behaviors across the  country, majority of the respondents 558(54.5%) affirmed they would visit the hospital as the first point of contact if the opportunitypresented itself, 244(23.9%) claimed they would call the NCDC toll line, 2(0.2%) said they would use prayers, while 1(0.1%) respectively claimed they would use home management strategies through visiting chemist stores and checking the internet for solutions. Findings from this study confirm that there is very high awareness of the COVID-19 disease across the country, and limited number of testing centers at the community level. The implications include the possibility of unreported COVID19 cases in the cities as well as in the  communities. Keywords: COVID-19, knowledge, health seeking behaviors, community level

A cross sectional study on mosquito fauna of Anambra East Local Government Area was carried out between June 2017 and August 2018. Pyrethrum knockdown and Human Landing Catch Collection methods were used to collect adult mosquitoes from indoor and outdoor locations respectively, in four randomly selected towns in the LGA. The mosquitoes were identified using standard taxonomic keys. A total of 681 adult mosquitoes were collected: 182 (26.7%) in Aguleri, 135 (19.8%) in Umuleri, 273 (40.1%) in Igbariam and 91 (13.4%) in Nando. Out of these, 551 (80.9%) mosquitoes were collected from indoor location and 130 (19.1%) mosquitoes from outdoor location (P < 0.05). Six (6) Genera of mosquito collected were: Anopheles (39.4%), Aedes (3.7%), Culex (37.9%), Mansonia (18.4%), Eretmapodite (0.6%), and Coquilletidia (0.15%) (P < 0.05). Only Culex mosquitoes showed significant difference in indoor abundance, 43.6% and outdoor abundance 13.8% (P < 0.05). Sixteen species of mosquitoes were identified. The most abundant species of mosquito was Cx. quinquefasciatus, with 35.9% abundance and the least were Coquellettidia species and Cx. annuloris, 0.15% abundance each (P < 0.05). The most abundant Species of mosquito in indoor location was Anopheles gambiae s. l, with 42.3% abundance and the least were Ae. albopictus and Cx. annuloris, with 0.2% abundance each (P < 0.05). The most abundant species of mosquito in the outdoor locations was Mansonia uniformis, with 34.6% abundance and the least were An. funestus and Coquellettidia, with 0.80% abundance (P < 0.05). The presence of the different mosquito species found in this study area is of great medical importance. Most of the species are already known vectors of disease pathogens. Therefore, personal protection, provision of adequate mosquito management options, regular surveillance, and public health sensitizations are hereby recommended.