Sri Lankan Journal of Infectious Diseases (May 2018)

Distribution of dengue vectors, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, in a few selected semi-urban areas of the Central Province of Sri Lanka

  • F Noordeen,
  • MRM Raza,
  • FNN Pitchai,
  • WKC Saranga,
  • LKHB Sandeepani,
  • LD Sadamali,
  • MBTT Sanathchandra,
  • KRMHN Samarakoon,
  • MJF Rukshana,
  • RMM Ratnayake,
  • RCSB Ratnayake,
  • RMPM Ratnayake,
  • HMSM Seanadheera

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4038/sljid.v8i1.8141
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 1
pp. 36 – 39

Abstract

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Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are the two major vectors transmitting dengue viruses. The current study was undertaken from October to November 2014 to identify the distribution of dengue vectors in the Akurana Medical Officer of Health (MOH) division, which consisted of Akurana, Dunuwila and Alawathugoda Public Health Inspector (PHI) divisions. Larvae were collected from potential breeding sites in randomly selected houses in the selected PHI areas. Aedes larvae were incubated to emerge and the adults were differentiated into species using morphological features. Adult Aedes mosquitoes were pooled and tested for NS1 antigen. The total larvae collected were 700 and the total number of emerged adults were 171, consisting of 116 A. albopictus and 55 A. aegypti mosquitoes. None of the Aedes pools tested were positive for dengue NS1. A. albopictus was found to be abundant in the Akurana MOH division during the study period.

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