Abstract
Mosquitoes have a world-wide distribution occurring mostly in sub-Saharan Africa where they cause considerable annoyance due to their bites also an important disease vector. The study was undertaken within a six week period in Asa-Obingwu a rural community, in Abia State South eastern Nigeria, to identify the different mosquito vector species and to determine the level of vector host association using blood meal status. In determining the distribution and abundance of mosquito in the study areas, indoor residual spraying using pyrethrum was adopted. The entire Knock down mosquitoes were collected and preserved in labeled bottles accordingly. The mosquitoes were there after identified to species level using dissecting microscope. The results showed that out of 613 mosquito knocked down during the study, 485 (79.1 %) were Anopheles specie, 77 (12.6%) were Aedes specie while 51(8.3 %) were Culex specie.The meal status of the different species encountered showed that Anopheles specie were more fed 324(66.8%) followed by Culex 19 (37.3%) and the least was Aedes 9(11.7 %)specie. These results were significantly different (P<0.05). The average indoor resting density showed that 4 anopheles mosquitoes were found in every house per night as compared to Culex (0.4) and Aedes (0.6) these findings were attributed to the presence of water bodies around the residential areas which were good breeding sites for the vector. The inhabitants were mostly individuals with poor knowledge of malaria transmission and control. It is therefore advocated that government intensify efforts at educating the rural populace on the dangers posed by the presence of the vector.
Highlights
Mosquitoes are of tremendous health importance because of their ability to host and transmit various disease pathogens and parasites including viruses, protozoa and nematodes (Onyido et al, 2010)
The result of the present study have demonstrated the relative abundance and blood meal status of Anopheles gambiae, Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti encountered in Asa-Obingwu community, Ukwa West L.G.A, Abia State
All species of mosquitoes reported in this study have been reported by different studies in other parts of Nigeria (Ekanem, 2001; Okogun et al, 2003; Usip and Ibenga, 2003; Oduola and Awe, 2006; Lenhart et al, 2007; Adebote et al, 2008; Onyido et al, 2010)
Summary
Mosquitoes are of tremendous health importance because of their ability to host and transmit various disease pathogens and parasites including viruses, protozoa and nematodes (Onyido et al, 2010). Blood sucking habits of adult mosquitoes makes them susceptible to acquiring pathogens and parasites from the vertebrate host. This is seen in the unique feeding habits of mosquitoes whereby only the females bite man and other animals, while the males feed on plant juices only. Studies in various habitats (micro and macro) in Nigeria have demonstrated the abundance of various mosquito species. They include mosquitoes of the genera Anopheles, Culex, and Aedes (Nwoke et al, 1993; Ekanem, 2001; Usip and Ibenga, 2003). This study is aimed at providing baseline information on mosquito vector species composition and the level of vector-host association using meal status in some rural communities of Abia State, Nigeria
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