Abundance and Seasonal Composition of Adult Indoor Resting Culicine Mosquitoes in Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Abundance and seasonal composition of adult indoor resting Culicine mosquitoes in Dutse were studied between April to September  2021. Culex pipiens complex and Aedes species has been proven as the potential vectors of public health importance. However, their  abundance and seasonal composition has not been adequately studied in Dutse, Northwest Nigeria to document their vectorial profile.  This study was designed to fill the gap. Adult indoor resting mosquitoes were collected using Pyrethrum Spray catch (PSC) from April –  September 2021 and were morphologically and molecularly identified using keys and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Data generated  were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). 2656 mosquitoes, comprising Culex quinquefasciatus (2507) and Aedes  species (149) were collected. Culex quinquefasciatus was the most abundant species (94.4%) collected while the least were Aedes  species (5.6%). The results revealed that in Jidawa, more Culex quinquefasciatus (80) were collected in August while the least were  collected in June (25). For Aedes mosquitoes, higher collection (75) was realised in April while July recorded zero collection. The monthly  variation of the mosquitoes showed the peak in the month of April (690) and May (300) in Jidawa when compared to Kargo (430) and  (100) respectively. In the dry season, more mosquitoes were collected In Jidawa while in Kargo more were collected during the wet  seasons. The result of the molecular identification of the Culex pipiens complex reveals Culex quinquefasciatus as the only sibling species  in both Jigawa and Kargo. The occurrence of Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes species is an indication of the signal against lymphatic  filariasis, dengue fever, arbovirus and yellow fever in the area. Therefore, there is need for vector control programmes and public  orientation on the drivers of mosquito abundance in the study area, taking into cognisance the seasonality variation of the mosquitoes.