Household water storage containers: Aedes aegypti larval breeding site and high risk of transmission of arboviruses in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire

Abstract

Dengue 3 epidemic was declared in Abidjan in 2018. Vector control was directed towards management of breeding sites to reduce proliferation of mosquitoes. Thus, characterization was carried out through larval prospecting in 100 households in six communes of Abidjan in February and August (large and small dry season) of 2018, before and after mosquito control. 3,809 larval breeding sites were inventoried, including 2,289 before and 1,520 after (p-value > 0.05). 76% of sites (2,909), consisted of water storage (1,380) and abandoned containers (1,529). These two categories were most abundant in households (p-value <0.0001). Greatest number of storage containers were observed in Attécoubé (n = 312) and Abobo (n = 296). Abandoned containers were abundant in Port-Bouet (n = 416). Number of abandoned containers was reduced from 1,016 before to 513 after operation (p-value < 0.01). However, water storage containers have increased slightly. It went from 686 before operation to 694 after. Positive storage containers (255) were also the most numerous (53%). Their proportions were 151 (41%) and 104 (55%) before and after mosquito control. They were very productive in Aedes aegypti. Household water storage containers could lead to reconstitution, maintenance of mosquitoes and increased risk of arboviruses spread in Abidjan.