Abundance of mosquito vectors of human diseases at the awka campus of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka Anambra state Nigeria.

Abstract

Background: Mosquitoes are blood sucking insects dreaded for their biting nuisance and annoyance; they are also incriminated in the transmission of public health diseases among humans and among animals. The study was conducted to determine the abundance of mosquitos and their biting patterns at the Awka Campus of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka Anambra State between April and June 2021. Methods: Eggs of mosquito species were collected using ovitraps and larvae were sampled across five (5). Indoor-biting and resting mosquitoes were collected using pyrethroid knockdown (PKD) method. Outdoor-biting mosquitoes were collected using Human Landing Catch (HLC) method. Results: A total of twenty-one (21) mosquitoes comprising three species, Aedes aegypti 3(14.3%), Aedes africanus 13(61.9%) and Aedes albopictus 5(23.8%) were collected using ovitraps. Mosquito larvae collected from breeding sites were a total of sixty-eight (68). The highest number of mosquito larvae were collected from discarded tyres 54(79.4%). Indoors, a total of one hundred and ten (110) adult mosquitoes were collected, and outdoor adult mosquitoes collected were a total of one hundred and forty-eight (148). The abundance of mosquito species collected was significantly different (p Insecticide Knockdown> Larvae Collection>Ovitrap. The relative abundance of Aedes aegypti 60(40.5%) was significantly higher (p <0.05) than other species. Conclusion: In general, outdoor mosquito biting peak was recorded between 6:45pm and 7:45pm. This study is of public health concern because the student and staff population may be exposed to mosquito bites and possible disease transmission.

Keywords

• relative abundance
• mosquitoes
• breeding sites
• anopheles
• aedes