Malariometric indices of mosquitoes caught outdoors in Iba LCDA, Ojo local Government, Lagos State, Nigeria.

Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Lagos State University, Lagos, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author:

Okwa OO
Department of Zoology and environmental Biology
Lagos state University, Lagos, Nigeria
Tel: 08028313362
E-mail: Okwaomolade@hotmail.com

Received date: March 05, 2015; Accepted date: June 05, 2015; Published date: June 11, 2015

Citation: Okwa OO, Dennis JO (2015) Malariometric Indices of Mosquitoes Caught Outdoors in Iba LCDA, Ojo Local Government, Lagos State, Nigeria. Occup Med Health Aff 3:203. doi: 10.4172/2329-6879.1000203

Copyright: © 2015 Okwa OO, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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Abstract

Mosquitoes were collected by human landing catches between February and June 2013 (early wet season) outside houses situated at Iba local council development authority (Iba LCDA) in Ojo local government area of Lagos State, Nigeria. A total of 264 mosquitoes were caught and transferred to bottles containing 70% ethanol and labeled accordingly. Species and sex differentiation was carried out using a dissecting binocular microscope. Morphotaxonomic keys indicated that there were more Anopheles 211 (80%) than Culex mosquitoes 53(20%) and more females 221(84.5%) than males 43(16.2%). However only 29 Anopheles female had bloodmeals (engorged). Malariometric indices as bloodmeal analysis (Human host preference) and sporozoite rate were carried out on the engorged female Anopheles using the Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). 11(37.5%) tested positive for human host out of the 29 engorged females while five (17.24%) tested for sporozoite. The study highlighted that since malaria can be contacted outdoors when bitten control should not be restricted only to indoors. Control Methods like clearing of bushes, gutters, destruction of breeding sites and regular environmental sanitation are strongly advocated in this area.

Keywords

Mosquitoes; Bloodmeal; Sporozoite

Introduction

Mosquitoes are arthropods (Diptera: Culicidae) that transmit parasitic diseases like malaria and lymphatic filariasis. These small insects are biting nuisances. Mosquitoes have long tubular mouthparts for sucking up fluids. The female Anopheles mosquito sucks blood for development and production of its eggs [1]. During this sucking, it transmits malaria parasite.

Mosquitoes exist in almost all places in the world except in ocean areas and arid deserts. Some exist even in Polar Regions in the arctic tundra, lakes and pools [2]. Each species of mosquito selects the situation of the water in which it lay eggs and does so according to its ecological adaptation [3]. Mosquitoes attack people in houses and some prefer to attack people outdoors [4]. Such differences are important because certain ecological differences keep mosquitoes away from humans while some bring them into houses at night [5].

The abundance of Anopheles is the most common entomological measure used to describe the relationship between vectors and malaria [6]. It is important to know the type of mosquito one is dealing with as this is crucial for disease forecasting and monitoring.

This present study looks at Malariometric indices (capacity and ability to transmit malaria) from mosquitoes collected by human bait outside houses in a sub urban area of Lagos, Nigeria. These indices are human host preference by blood meal analysis and sporozoite detection.

Methodology

Description of study site

Iba Local council development authority is a new area under Ojo Local government. This area stretches over 15 kms with a population of over 5,000 people. The area has congested houses, presence of refuse dumps and open gutters with polluted waters.

The area has several canals. Coastline is muddy, swampy and water logged in the wet season, peak rainfall is from June-October, temperature ranges from 27-34°C throughout the year. Relative humidity is about 78% in wet season and 65% in the dry season.

Collection of mosquitoes

Mosquitoes were collected by human landing catches (human bait) between February to June 2013. Two houses were selected randomly. Two collectors sat outdoors between 18-22 hours, with bare legs catching mosquitoes coming to bite with the aid of torch lights. Mosquitoes were kept in bottles containing 70% ethanol and labelled.

Identification of mosquitoes

A dissecting binocular microscope was used for identification of each mosquito. A drop of saline was added to the mosquito on the slide for easier visibility.

Species differentiation

Anopheles mosquitoes were distinguished from Culex according to the morphological characteristics of their maxillary palps using the morphological keys of Gilles and Coetzee [7].

The maxillary palps of Culex are clubbed shaped and are shorter than its proboscis while that of Anopheles were as long as its proboscis and pointed.

Sex differentiation

Male mosquitoes have plumose or feathery antennae while females have none. Engorged female Anopheles were selected by observation of the protruded abdomen. These were those that have already received a blood meal.

Statistical analysis

Chi square X² was used to determine differences between species set at 5% level of significance.

Dissection of mosquitoes

The engorged females were dissected transversely between the first and third pairs of legs under the dissecting microscope. This severed the head and thorax from the abdomen.

Malariometric Indices

Human host preference

The abdomens severed were placed in flat bottomed Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) plates and grinded to release the bloodmeal for analysis, this is to detect the source of the bloodmeal, whether human or not. Direct ELISA was used based on the procedure of Beier et al [8]. Anti peroxidase conjugate (anti human IgG) was used to identify human blood meal. A total of 29 bloodmeals were assayed.

Negative controls were triturated male mosquitoes. Samples were considered positive 30 minutes later when colour changes to green (visually) before the addition of substrate ABTS(2’2 azinodol-3-ethyl bentiazoline). The samples were read with a Labystem Mulkians multisoft type Elisa reader for confirmation.

Sporozoite detection

The corresponding heads and thoraxes were separately triturated in specimen bottles containing 50 μl grinding buffer. Sandwich ELISA was used for Plasmodium falciparium detection based on the method of Wirtz et al. [1]. Pf 2A10 monoclonal antibody and peroxidase conjugated antibody were used with the triturates added in between.

This assay was carried out in U-shaped ELISA plates [9] Male mosquitoes were used as negative control. Samples were considered positive 60 minutes later when colour changes to green (visually) before the addition of substrate ABTS. The samples were read with a Lasystem Mulkians multisoft type Elisa reader for confirmation.

Results

Abundance and distribution of the outdoor caught mosquitoes

A total of 264 mosquitoes were caught outdoors. 211 (80%) were Anopheles while 53 (20%) were Culex. This was statistically significant P<0.05. 175 (82.5%) of the Anopheles were female while 36(17%) were males. This was statistically significant P<0.05. Seven (13.2%) of the Culex were male while 46(86%) were females. This was statistically significant P<0.05 (Table 1).

Table 1: showing the abundance and distribution of Mosquitoes collected in Iba LCDA.

There was increase in number of mosquitoes collected from February to June for Anopheles mosquitoes only (Figure 1).

Figure 1: showing the distribution of both species from February to June (1-5).

Malariometric Indices

Human host preference

Twenty nine of the Anopheles female were engorged, 11 tested positive for human blood. The human blood index is 37.9%.

Sporozoite detection

5 out of 29 engorged Anopheles female tested positive. The sporozoite rate is 17.2%.

Discussion

To complete their gonotrophic cycle, female mosquitoes require a second blood meal one day after the first to mature the first egg batch. Bites are taken at night between 18hrs to 6hrs. Mosquitoes that have fed outdoors do go in for more blood meals. In this study mosquitoes were caught outdoors while trying to bite. Such mosquitoes could find their way inside the houses in the absence of human baits. There has been an increased number of infected mosquitoes in nature of which many are exophilic [10]. Behaviour and ecological determinants to which mosquito respond is of great interest to vector control. Diverse epidemiological situations have to be taken into account to control mosquitoes [11]. Malaria vector control in Africa has been mainly based on use of Insecticide treated nets and indoor residual spraying but control of mosquitoes and breeding sites outside homes is equally important and advocated.

References

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