Larval habitats of anopheline vectors of malaria on the highlands of Mambilla Plateau Taraba State North East Nigeria

摘要

Identification of larval habitats on the highlands of Mambilla Plateau and mosquito tolerance range to physico-chemical parameters may be helpful to control insurgent of the vector mosquitoes and to put in place mechanisms to prevent epidemics. This study was conducted to determine and characterize the larval habitats of anopheline vectors of malaria in five altitudinal locations on the highlands of Mambilla Plateau. Larval density for each study location was determined from the breeding index using the formula: BI= TLP/ND×BP, where BI= breeding index, TLP= total number of larvae and pupae sampled, ND= number of dips and BP= number of breeding places/sampling sites. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine relationship between larval abundance and altitude as well as mean physicochemical parameters. Larval mosquito abundance per study location was recorded and compared. In all, 60 larval habitats were sampled only six were productive for anopheline larvae these were from three altitudinal locations. About 179 larvae were collected from breeding habitats and reared to adulthood they comprised of four species; Anopheles gambiae, An. coustani, An. funestus and An. pharoensis. Mosquitoes thrived in still, clear sunlit temporary pools and swamps with wide range of Physico- chemical parameters. There was no significant relationship between larval abundance and physicochemical parameters as well as altitude p0.05. Altitude and physicochemical parameters of the larval habitats should be considered in planning and implementing targeted larval mosquito control programmes in the highlands.