Characterization of Anopheles Mosquitoes Larvae Breeding habitats in Selected Six Local Government Areas in Ekiti State, South-West Nigeria

Abstract

This study explored the spatial distribution and attributes of Anopheles mosquito larvae breeding sites in six local government areas of Ekiti State, Nigeria. It employed a cross-sectional design, randomly sampling larvae habitats across three distinct locations, resulting in the assessment of a total of 18 breeding sites. The assessment of habitat characteristics and physico-chemical parameters of larvae breeding water-bodies was conducted through visual inspection and laboratory procedures, adhering to the standard protocol outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO). The objective of this study is to characteriseAnopheles mosquito larvae breeding habitats in six selected local government areas in Ekiti State using WHO protocol.. Two local governments were selected each from the three senatorial districts in the state and a survey was conducted to identify dams, rivers, swamps, marshlands, and temporary water ponds within each zone for Anopheles mosquito larvae using WHO protocols. Measurements of water temperature and pH were conducted twice in a week using a multi-parameter meter (PHB500- ww portable ph meter).Anopheles mosquito larvae were collected across the eighteen breeding sites in the selected six LGA in Ekiti using standard dipper, pasteur pipettes and scooping techniques and reared to adult in the laboratory. Most of the larvae habitats encountered were stagnant water bodies 10(56%) with the mean of 122.2 ± 41.20 followed by Tyre track 4(22%) with the mean of 129.8 ± 41.20, slowly flowing 2(11%) with the mean of 186.0 ± 16.97 and gutter 2(11%) with the mean of 170.0 ± 98.9. Types of breeding site across the six study area were all temporary sites 18(100%), more than half 13 (72%) of the habitats origin of water were natural, 11(61%) of the breeding habitats’ specific water body were stagnant water bodies. Furthermore, majority 14(78%) of the water bodies were polluted, 16(89%) were exposed to sunlight and it was also discovered that the all the breeding habitats across the six study area were around settlements (houses). Therefore physicochemical characteristics such as Temperature (r=0.896, p=0.016), pH (r=0.865, p=0.026) and Electrical conductivity (r=0.865, p=0.045) were significantly associated with larvae abundant with a strong positive correlation while the physicochemical characteristics such as DO and TDS were not significantly associated with larvae abundance .