A study on mosquitoes composition and malaria transmission in some communities in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

The paucity of information on malaria vectors in rural areas continues to pose a problem in the public health sector in Nigeria. Thus, the study on mosquitoes composition and malaria transmission in some communities in Doma Local Government Area (LGA) of Nasarawa State, Nigeria was carried out between April and July 2021. Indoor resting mosquitoes were collected using standard pyrethrum spray catch (PSC) from 0600 to 0900 hours. The mosquitoes collected were transferred into a well labelled petri-dish and transported to the laboratory for processing. A total of 1,317 mosquitoes were collected which spread across Iwashi 1,132 (85.9%) and Ruttu 185 (14.0%) communities. The results obtained indicate that the Anopheles mosquitoes had a higher abundance of 1,020 (77.4%) mosquitoes of which females constituted 886 (67.3%) of the population collected while the anopheline males accounted for 134 (10.2%). The abundance of mosquitoes in relation to groups, species and sex respectively varied significantly (p < 0.05). A zero (0.0%) sporozoite rate was recorded from the 654 female Anopheles gambiae s. l. dissected, although oocyst was seen in the alimentary canal of 78 (11.9%) mosquitoes which may be an indicator of possible potential transmission. The results obtained from this study call on all the inhabitants of the two selected communities as well as Doma LGA at large to always clear all potential mosquitoes breeding sites. Also, members of the communities should ensure proper protection against vector-human contact by sleeping under insecticide treated bed nets.