Abstract
Aedes aegypti is the main vector for yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses. Recent outbreaks of dengue and chikungunya have been reported in Kenya. Presence and abundance of this vector is associated with the risk for the occurrence and transmission of these diseases. This study aimed to characterize the presence and abundance of Ae. aegypti adult mosquitoes from rural and urban sites in western and coastal regions of Kenya. Presence and abundance of Ae. aegypti adult mosquitoes were determined indoors and outdoors in two western (urban Kisumu and rural Chulaimbo) and two coastal (urban Ukunda and rural Msambweni) sites in Kenya. Sampling was performed using quarterly human landing catches, monthly Prokopack automated aspirators and monthly Biogents-sentinel traps. A total of 2,229 adult Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were collected: 785 (35.2%) by human landing catches, 459 (20.6%) by Prokopack aspiration and 985 (44.2%) by Biogents-sentinel traps. About three times as many Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were collected in urban than rural sites (1,650 versus 579). Comparable numbers were collected in western (1,196) and coastal (1,033) sites. Over 80% were collected outdoors through human landing catches and Prokopack aspiration. The probability of collecting Ae. aegypti mosquitoes by human landing catches was significantly higher in the afternoon than morning hours (P<0.001), outdoors than indoors (P<0.001) and in urban than rural sites (P = 0.008). Significantly more Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were collected using Prokopack aspiration outdoors than indoors (P<0.001) and in urban than rural areas (P<0.001). Significantly more mosquitoes were collected using Biogents-sentinel traps in urban than rural areas (P = 0.008) and in western than coastal sites (P = 0.006). The probability of exposure to Ae. aegypti bites was highest in urban areas, outdoors and in the afternoon hours. These characteristics have major implications for the possible transmission of arboviral diseases and for the planning of surveillance and control programs.
Highlights
Aedes aegypti is an important vector of arboviruses, which include yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses [1,2,3,4]
A total of 785 Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were collected by Human landing catches (HLC): 193 indoors and 592 outdoors and 198 in rural sites and 587 in urban sites
The number of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes collected varied among the hours, sites and indoors/outdoors (Fig 2)
Summary
Aedes aegypti is an important vector of arboviruses, which include yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses [1,2,3,4]. This vector originated in Africa [5], spread to other continents through trade [6] and now is distributed worldwide [7]. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes show a range of color and pattern of scaling, choice for blood meal source, egg dormancy period, choice for oviposition/larval sites, aquatic development time periods and competence to vector viruses [6]
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