Malaria Vector Surveillance, Prevalence, Diversity, Behavioural Patterns and Their Implications to Tourist Activities in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria | Chapter 13 | Current Trends in Medicine and Medical Research Vol. 1
Aims:
Malaria poses a medical and public health challenge in Nigeria. The burden of
the disease has been a major source of concern to tourists in Uyo. Knowledge on
the biting behaviour and the Human Biting Rates (HBR) are needed to assess the
epidemiology of the disease and in estimating the vector - human contact.
Study
Design: A six months study was carried out in Uyo, Nigeria where no information
exists on the major malaria vectors associated with human malaria. Sample
collection was carried out between May and October 2013 using Knockdown and
Human Landing Catches (HLC) techniques.
Methodology:
Adults mosquitoes were collected in two areas in Ewet Offot Community. Nine
households were randomly selected in each location using Simple Random Sampling
Method. Mosquitoes belonging to the Anopheles gambiae complex were further
characterized and identified by a molecular method using Polymerase Chain
Reaction (PCR).
Results:
Two anophelines species were collected by the sampling methods consisting of
21(23.3%) Anopheles nili and 69(76.7%) Anophele gambiae complex. A Polymerase
Chain Reaction (PCR) based test on the An. gambiae complex identified 66(96.0%)
as An. gambiae sensu stricto. The study also revealed that the resting
behaviour of An. gambiae complex species in this area is endophilic whereas the
resting behaviour of An. nili is exophagic/exophilic. The peak biting activity
of An. gambiae complex species occurred at 11 pm (indoor) and 7 pm (outdoor) in
July whereas that of An. nili occurred at 10 pm (indoor) and 6 pm (outdoor) in
June. The Human Biting Rates (HBR) recorded for An. gambiae was higher than An.
nili and the total number An. gambiae collected was more than An. nili.
Conclusion:
Better understanding of the behaviour of the sibling species within the complex
is important to help identify their roles in disease transmission and to
facilitate vector control.
Biography of author(s)
Inyang A. Atting
Department of
Medical Microbiology and
Parasitology, Faculty of
Clinical Sciences, College
of Health Sciences,
University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria.
Mfonobong E. Akpan
Department of
Medical Microbiology and
Parasitology, Faculty of
Clinical Sciences, College
of Health Sciences,
University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria
Nsima Ibanga G. Udoidung
Department
of Animal and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Uyo,
Uyo, Nigeria.
View Volume: https://doi.org/10.9734/BPI/ctmmr/v1
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