Species composition and abundance of mosquitoes and their disease transmission potential in rural and urban areas of Kilifi County, Kenya
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Date
2015-11
Authors
Ngugi, Njoroge John
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are found in both urban and rural areas in Kenya.
Many mosquito species are important vectors of human disease causing pathogens
notably malaria, filariasis and yellow fever. The total days of labor lost coupled with
costs of treatment and the high mortality associated with these diseases make them a
serious obstacle for development. There is need therefore for measures to
. continuously control these insects. A study was conducted in Kilifi region of coastal
Kenya to assess the mosquito s species composition, abundance and disease
transmission potential in Kilifi town and Janbuni village 20 kilometers from Kilifi
town. Data collection started in August 20 I0 toward the end of long rains. Assessing
the composition and abundance of the mosquito species was carried out by dipping
and incubation to adult emergence for larvae folJowed by identification, counting
and recording. Adult mosquitoes were trapped, identified, counted and recorded by
species. Individual insects were also sorted by sex and enumerated. The total mnnber
of individuals per species was obtained The mosquit~ species recorded were
Culex quinquefusciatus, Culex anmdororis, Culex tigripes; Anopheles gambiae,
Anopheles funestus, Anophele., pretoriensis, Anophele., ";qumno.:m.,. Aedes aegypti,
Aedes simpsoni and Erepodites inornoJ:us. The data on species abundance was
subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANONA), data on larval, iridoor , outdoor sex
occurrence, human biting rates and entomological inoculation rates was subjected to
a paired t-test of SPSS (17.0) and data on physiological and sporozoites status was
subjected to Chi-Square Test. The significance level was set at p=O.05. The larval
and adult species mean numbers wac not significantly different between Janbuni
and KiJifi. There were significant differences between the mean nmnbers of larval
species recorded in River ponds and temporary rain pools. Adult females and males
also differed significantly indoors as well as oudoors. The effect of mosquito blood
meal on sporozoites presence was evident. There were significant differences
between the buman biting rates of Anopheles gambioe and Anopheles funestus as
well as' entomological inoculation rates. Anopheles funestus recorded higher mean.
However no infections were recorded in Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes species.
The were more larval mosquitoes species recorded in Kilifi town area which could
probably explain the role of temporaly ponds in species composition and abundance.
The were almost equal numbers of adult species in the two sites probably indicating
similar ideal ecological conditions for all the species. There is need therefore to
encourage the members of the public to continue using treated bed nets to avoid
infective mosquito bites.
Description
Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Science (Animal Ecology) in the School of Pure and Applied Sciences of Kenyatta University. November 2015