Relationship Between Weather Parameters and Female Mosquito Abundance and Distribution in Makurdi - a Mosquito Infested Area in North Central Nigeria

Abstract

The relationship between weather parameters and female mosquito populations/distribution were determined in Makurdi from four localities over a 12-month period. Data on temperature, rainfall and relative humidity were obtained using the expertise of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency at the Tactical Air Command headquarters in Makurdi. Adult female mosquitoes (4,320), comprising anophelines and culicines were caught indoors and identified using standard keys and procedures. 1,040 (24.1%) were Anopheles gambiae sl; 641 (14.8%) were Aonpheles funestus; 2,418 (56.0%) were Culex quinquefasciatus while 221(5.1%) were 'unidentified' Anopheles species. Mean atmospheric temperature was high throughout the study period with peaks in February and March, before the steady rains in April. Mean temperature in the hottest period (February to April) ranged from 35.2 0 C -38.2 0 C. Relative humidity was proportional to rainfall and ranged from 44% -86%. Wet seasons had more mosquito vectors than the dry season. Pearsons's correlation showed a significant negative relationship (P < 0.05) between temperature and the abundance and distribution of mosquitoes for all the other species except for Anopheles funestus (P > 0.05). Similarly, there were significant positive correlations (P < 0.05) between both rainfall and relative humidity, and the abundance of the other mosquito species in the study area excluding Anopheles funestus (P > 0.05). Regression showed strong linear relationships (R 2 = 0.557, 0.549, and 0.637 for temperature, rainfall and humidity respectively) between weather parameters and mosquito population. This work provides baseline data on mosquito vector relationship with weather factors required for vector population control interventions in Makurdi.

Determination of sporozoite infection rate of indoor resting female Anopheles mosquitoes in Gombe South, Gombe State, Nigeria

“…This research work investigated the sporozoites infection rate of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes in Gombe south LGAs, Gombe State, northeastern Nigeria. A total of 1,860 female Anopheles were dissected, out of which 665(35.8%) sporozoites infection rate was observed as the overall in the four LGAs, the outcome of this research concur with the findings of (Salum et al, 2021;Oduola et al, 2021;Manyi et al, 2014;Najila et al, 2019) where in separate studies form Kilombero velleys, southeastern Tanzania, Kwara state and Markurdi in north-central Nigeria respectively, but differs with the reports of (Lamogo et al, 2019;Maia et al, 2019;Obembe and Awopetu, 2014). from some selected communities in Shongom LGA, Gombe state, and Sri Lanka, the difference in the results could be as a result of geographical factors variation such as: the amount of rainfall received in the site, temperature, and availability of potential breeding sites of the vectors, the size of communities covered and other factors like conduciveness of environments for the Anopheles mosquito to live comfortably.…”

Mosquitoes at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital Nigeria: A Threat to Caregivers and Patients

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Assessment of the Effect of Neem Plant Products on House Mosquito Repellency: A Case Study of Burera and Gicumbi Districts

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