STUDIES O N THE ABUNDANCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF MOSQUITOES AND PREVALENCE OF MALARIA IN YABO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF SOKOTO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

S tudy was conducted to determine the abundance and distribution of mosquitoes and the prevalence of malaria parasites in Yabo Local Government Area. Mosquito breeding sites identification employed the use of a digital camera to snap pictures of areas where mosquitoes were observed. Mosquitoes eggs, larvae, pupa were collected and identified using the dipping met hod while indoor mosquitoes were caught from rooms,/toilets between the hours of 8 - 10pm using insecticide spray . A total of 370 blood samples were collected, analyzed using thick/thin films and stained using standard procedures. Twelve different mosquito es breeding site s were identified . A total of 5,425 adult mosquitoes were ca ught, o ut of which 3,546 (65 .36 %) were indoors and 1,879 (34.64%) caught outdoors. Statistical analysis conducted indicated significant difference (p< 0.05) between the two collec tions . M osquitoes encountered belon g to three genera of Anopheles, Culex and Aedes . The most predominant g enus was Culex with a total of 5,967 (99.48%) adult mosquitoes, while Anopheles were 28 (0.52%) adult mosquitoes caught . Out of 370 blood samples examined , 118 (31.9%) were positive for malaria. The only plasmodium species encountered was Plasmodium falciparum with Kilgori district having the highest positives 76 (20.5%) . Results showed that malaria infection is significantly recorded (P<0.05) in fe males 87 (23.5%), those aged 1 - 9 years 33 (8.9%), and month of August 66 (17.8 %). Considering the medical importance of mosquitoes and malaria, information provided from this study will serve as basis for understanding the implication of mosquitoes nuisance and mounting effective control strategies against the vector and the disease.