PAN AFRICAN JOURNAL OF LIFE SCIENCES
e-ISSN: 2672-5924
Volume 5, No. 3, December 2021
Pages 312-320
DOI: 10.36108/pajols/1202.50.0320
Larval Habitat Characterization and Molecular Identification of Anopheles gambiae Complex in three Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Ekiti State, Nigeria
Aaron O. Nwana1, Hilary I. Okoh1, Amos T. Oyeniyi 2,3 , Adedapo O. Adeogun2
1Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Science, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
2Vector Research Unit, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria
3Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, University of Lagos, Nigeria
Abstract
Background: Mosquito-borne diseases have remained a serious problem in many parts of the world despite several control efforts to manage the vector abundance. Mosquitoes transmit such diseases like malaria, dengue, lymphatic filariasis and yellow fever. Malaria parasites, transmitted through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquitoes still result in many morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. In this study, larval breeding site characterization and molecular identification of Anopheles mosquitoes were carried out in Ado, Oye and Ikole LGAs of Ekiti State, Nigeria .
Methods: Mosquito larvae were collected from the study sites at different times during the mosquito breeding season from April to July 2019. Habitat characteristics were observed after which larvae collection was carried out. Identification of Anopheles adult mosquitoes was done using taxonomic keys and multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and the results were analysed using the chi-squared test
Results: A total of 2,011 Anopheles mosquitoes larvae were collected from the various habitats in the three LGAs. Larvae breeding sites characteristics and the respective abundance of larvae caught include: Sunlight 1,509(75.04), Shade 502(24.96); Presence of algae 1,152(57.28), Absence of algae 859(42.72); Presence of vegetation 1,426(70.91), Absence of vegetation 585(29.09); Turbid 617(30.68), Clear 1,394(69.32); Temporary 1,909(94.93), Permanent 102(5.07); Stagnant 2,011(100), Flowing 0(0.00); Natural 1,851(92.04), Manmade 160(7.96); Presence of settlement 1,978(98.36) and Absence of settlement 33(1.64). The difference between each compared group was significant (p<0.05). Significant difference (p<0.05) also exist for the Anopheles mosquitoes collected; An. gambiae s.l (91.5%), An. funestus (7.96%) and An. maculipalpis (0.6%). Molecular identification of An. gambiae s.l. showed that products were formed in 83.61%, 76.61% and 84.47% of the samples from Ado, Oye and Ikole LGAs respectively and only two members of the An gambiae complex were identified in the entire LGAs; An. gambiae s.s. (59.22%) and An. arabiensis (21.89%).
Conclusion: This study identified the An. gambiae as the main Anopheles species in the study sites. This finding is similar to results from other parts of South-western Nigeria where An. gambiae was the predominant vector. There is therefore a need to intensify control efforts in the three LGAs .
Keywords: Breeding habitat, Species identification, Morphology, Multiplex PCR, An. gambiae, Ekiti.