Abstract
Mosquitoes cause significant human health issues. However, very few studies have attempted to examine the question of how abiotic and biotic factors affect the abundance of Culicidae in the larval habitat. The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of biotic and abiotic factors on the increase of the most common mosquito species in the Fez region (Central Morocco). Larvae mosquitoes were sampled by standard dipping technique in four different types of macrohabitats, between November 2015 and November 2016. Each mosquito specimen was morphologically identified by the Moroccan Culicidae key and the Brunhes key. The analysis was done using R analysis software. We collected a total of 772 mosquito larvae belonging to nine different species, five of which are considered of medical interest. Culex pipiens (Linnaeus, 1758), known as the major vector in the transmission of West Nile virus fever (WNV), was the most common species of all mosquito larvae collected. The results of Poisson regression analysis showed that factors such as the presence of green filamentous algae, vegetation cover, and debris were found to be positively significant in the distribution of the genus Culex. However, there was insufficient evidence to determine the parameters that are capable of estimating the abundance of Anopheles. The findings have also estimated that biotic and abiotic factors can lead to significant variation in the abundance of Culex perexiguus (Theobald, 1903), Culex theileri (Theobald, 1903), and Culex pipiens (Linnaeus, 1758). Identifying the priority parameters governing the proliferation of mosquitoes in the region of Fez can be one of the key elements for better vector control.
Highlights
Mosquitoes infect humans and other vertebrates. eir distribution is to a large extent influenced by climatic conditions and species habits across the globe [1]
Cinereus. e Culex was more prevalent, wherein Culex pipiens (Linnaeus, 1758) was more common than Culex perexiguus and Culex theileri, and Culex hortensis was represented by single species. e genera of Culiseta and Uranotaenia were represented by one species (Culiseta longiareolata (Macquart, 1838) and Uranotaenia unguiculata (Edwards, 1913)). e highest species richness was observed in Douwar Lhandiya source and Awinat Elhajaj. e most abundant populations were collected, respectively, in Douwar Lhandiya source (448 specimens) and Awinat Elhajaj (217 specimens). e low abundant populations were collected in Lgaada dam with 448 specimens and Jnan El Alami Oued with 28 specimens
E results of the logistic regression showed that the species Anopheles maculipennis s.l., Anopheles sergentii, Culiseta longiareolata (Macquart, 1838), and Uranotaenia unguiculata (Edwards, 1913), which are less abundant in the present study, had no statistically significant relationship between their abundance and the biotic and abiotic factors
Summary
Mosquitoes infect humans and other vertebrates. eir distribution is to a large extent influenced by climatic conditions and species habits across the globe [1]. Eir distribution is to a large extent influenced by climatic conditions and species habits across the globe [1]. Surveying biotic and abiotic factors for various mosquito fauna make it easier to monitor the potential modifications of larval habitats affected by rains, global climate change, and man-made activities [4,5,6]. E search has provided that the factors salinity, pH, and water body permanence determine the occurrence and distribution of larval [12], and water depth and temperature influence larval propagation [13]. The human factors like land-use and land-cover changes represent the principal key factor of the mosquito larvae occurrence [14]
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