Authors: A. Onyido, N.P.L. Deezia, M. Obiukwu, E. Amadi
The Internet Journal of Health ISSN: 1528-8315
Abstract
A study of man-biting mosquitoes at the permanent site hostels of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, was carried out between February and July 2008. Mosquito larvae were sampled from flood pools around the hostels using ladle. Indoor biting and resting adult mosquitoes were collected using pyrethrum knockdown collection method (PKC).
Outdoor biting mosquitoes were collected using human volunteers as baits and collectors. 1265 mosquitoes made up of 5 mosquito species were collected as larvae. Culex quinquefasciatus 466(36.84%) and Aedes aegypti 400(31.62%) formed the bulk of the larval collection. 72 adult mosquitoes comprising 3 mosquito species were collected inside the university hostels. Anopheles gambiae, 50(69.45%), constituted the highest percentage of indoor biting and resting mosquitoes. A room density of 8.2 mosquitoes/room/night was recorded, 6 mosquitoes/room/night were A. gambiae. 132 outdoor biting adult mosquitoes were collected, A. aegypti 67(57.5%) and A. albopictus 38(28.79%) had the highest numbers. A biting rate of 5.97 mosquitoes/man/hour was observed, 3.04 mosquitoes/man/hour were A. aegypti. The students in the hostels are therefore exposed to mosquito bites and mosquito-borne diseases. Self-protection by the students and general provision of mosquito control strategies in the students hostels by the institution is hereby suggested.
Keywords: Man-biting, mosquitoes, disease vectors, students, university development site