Aedes aegypti larval habitats and dengue vector indices in a village of Ubonratchathani province in the north-east of Thailand

Abstract

The objectives were to survey Aedes aegypti larval breeding habitats and analyze dengue vector indices. This larval vector survey was conducted in Dongklang village in Ubon Ratchathani province over two years in 2012 and 2013. During each year, dengue vector indices, House Index (HI), Container Index (CI), and Breteau Index (BI), were collected for two periods, dry season (January-April) and wet season (May-August). The number of households infested with larvae in the different years and periods were compared using chi-square test. The results showed in 2012, HI, CI, and BI were 52.7%, 19.9%, and 135.1% respectively in the dry season. In the wet season, the indices decreased. In 2013, dengue vector indices again tended to decrease from dry seasonal to wet seasonal periods. The numbers of households that were infested by Aedes larvae did not differ between years and seasons. Dengue vector indices are alternative methods to predict Aedes mosquito distribution and can be used in the making of decisions in relation to the development of health systems, planning, prevention, and control of dengue infection