Abstract
BackgroundIrrigated vegetable farms within the city of Kumasi, Ghana, create hotspots for the breeding of malaria vectors, which could lead to high transmission of malaria. This study investigated the abundance and productivity of mosquitoes in an irrigated vegetable farm in Kumasi, Ghana.MethodsAdult mosquito productivity was estimated five days in a week in different irrigated scheme types (dug-out wells, furrows and footprints) for 12 weeks using emergence traps. Larval sampling was done five days a week to estimate the abundance of larvae from the different irrigated schemes types.ResultsMosquito breeding in the irrigated vegetable field was confined to dug-out wells, furrows and human footprints. Mosquito productivity (m2/week) was highest in the dugout wells followed by the human footprints and the least was in the furrows (11.23, 5.07 and 4.34 An. gambiae/m2/week). Larval abundance for the late instars (3rd, 4th and pupae) also followed the same trend, with the dug-out wells having the highest larval abundance followed by the human footprints and then the furrows (13.24, 6.81, 5.87 larvae/week). Mosquito productivity and abundance was negatively correlated with rainfall (R2 = 0.209; P< 0.01).ConclusionThis study showed that adult and larval mosquito abundance and larval survival were high in the irrigated fields in the irrigated vegetable farm. This therefore, contributed significantly to adult mosquito populations and hence malaria transmission in the city.
Highlights
Irrigated vegetable farms within the city of Kumasi, Ghana, create hotspots for the breeding of malaria vectors, which could lead to high transmission of malaria
Study site The study site was an irrigated vegetable farm located at Gyinyase in the city of Kumasi, Ghana
Adult mosquito abundance in irrigated fields Adult mosquito productivity was estimated five days in a week in the different irrigated scheme types using emergence traps made from wood and covered with a nylon netting [16,17,18]
Summary
Irrigated vegetable farms within the city of Kumasi, Ghana, create hotspots for the breeding of malaria vectors, which could lead to high transmission of malaria. Previous studies in the city of Kumasi showed that irrigated vegetable farms within the city are responsible for the production of over 80% of malaria mosquitoes in the city [4]. The irrigated areas have mosquito numbers and malaria transmission levels that are similar to those of the surrounding rural areas. These vegetable farms are responsible for the production of 90% of vegetables consumed in the city [5]. Control of aquatic-stage Anopheles sp. is one of the oldest and most historically successful interventions to prevent malaria, but it has seen little application in Africa [9]
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