The Parity Rate of Indoor-Resting Adult Female Anopheles and Culex Mosquitoes and Their Implication in Disease Transmission in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Female Hostels Awka, South Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

A study on the parity rate of indoor-resting Anopheles and Culex mosquitoes and their implication in disease transmission was carried out in Nnamdi Azikiwe University female hostel between June and July 2016. The mosquitoes were sampled weekly from 24 randomly selected rooms using pyrethrum knock-down collection (P.K.C). A total of 516 mosquitoes comprising of 4 species: Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles funestus, Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex annulioris, were collected during the study period. The mosquitoes were examined for their abdominal gradings/gonotrophic stages and dissected for parity determination. Culex quinquefasciatus (61.43%) constituted the most abundant species followed by Anopheles gambiae (30.04%) and Anopheles funestus (7.56%) and the least being Culex annulioris (0.97%). Results showed that majority of the vector species were fed and parous and variations among the parity rates of the 4 species was significant (P <0.05). The high rate of the fed and parous mosquito species is of utmost concern in the hostel environment and therefore control measures aimed at eliminating the breeding sites and reducing its contact with the students should be embraced and practiced so as to minimize disease transmission among the students