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.
