Larval habitat diversity and mosquito species distribution along the coast of Kenya

Wellcome Open Research

article

Miriam Karuitha¹  Joel Bargul²  Joel Lutomiah⁴  Simon Muriu⁵  Joseph Nzovu¹  Rosemary Sang⁴  Joseph Mwangangi¹  Charles Mbogo¹ 

[1] Vector Biology Unit, Kenya Medical Research Institute ,(KEMRI), Center for Geographic Medicine Research Coast;Department of Biochemistry, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology;The Animal Health Department, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology;Hemorrhagic Fever Unit, Kenya Medical Research Institute ,(KEMRI), Center for Virus Research;Department of Biological Sciences, Pwani University Bioscience Centre;Kenya Medical Research Institute ,(KEMRI), Center for Vector Disease Control;KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme

关键词: Larval habitats;    habitat productivity;    Aedes;    Culex;    culicine diversity;    Arbovirus;   

DOI  :  10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15550.1

学科分类：内科医学

来源: Wellcome

【 摘 要 】

Background: Management of arboviruses relies heavily on vector control. Implementation and sustenance of effective control measures requires regular surveillance of mosquito occurrences, species abundance and distribution. The current study evaluated larval habitat diversity and productivity, mosquito species diversity and distribution in selected sites along the coast of Kenya.Methods: A cross-sectional survey of mosquito breeding habitats, species diversity and distribution was conducted in urban, peri-urban and forested ecological zones in Mombasa and Kilifi counties.Results: A total of 13,009 immature mosquitoes were collected from 17 diverse aquatic habitats along the coast of Kenya. Larval productivity differed significantly (F(16, 243) = 3.21, P < 0.0001) among the aquatic habitats, with tyre habitats recording the highest larval population.Culex pipiens (50.17%) andAedes aegypti (38.73%) were the dominant mosquito species in urban areas, whileAe. vittatus (89%) was the dominant species in forested areas.  In total, 4,735 adult mosquitoes belonging to 19 species were collected in Haller Park, Bamburi, Gede and Arabuko Sokoke forest. Urban areas supported higher densities ofAe. aegypti compared to peri-urban and forest areas, which, on the other hand, supported greater mosquito species diversity.Conclusions: HighAe. aegypti production in urban and peri-urban areas present a greater risk of arbovirus outbreaks. Targeting productive habitats ofAedes aegypti, such as discarded tyres, containers and poorly maintained drainage systems in urban areas and preventing human-vector contact in peri-urban and forested areas could have a significant impact on the prevalence of arboviruses along the coast of Kenya, forestalling the periodic outbreaks experienced in the region.

【 授权许可】

CC BY