Mosquito fauna of Anambra East LGA, Anambra state, Nigeria

Abstract

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.

Species Composition and Biting Activities of Mosquitoes in a Selected Community in Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria

“…Mosquitoes are common biting and sucking arthropods that belong to the class Insecta, Order Diptera and Family Culicidae. They are the world's deadliest animals [1] and are distributed worldwide where they are found in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats [2]. Mosquitoes undergo complete metamorphosis consisting of egg, larva, pupa and adults and the female mosquitoes bite people and animals for their blood meal [3].…”