Jornal Europeu de Biologia Experimental Acesso livre

Abstrato

Studies on some aspects of the ecology of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) in relation to filarial infection in Benin City, Nigeria

Aigbodion F. I., Uyi, O. O., Akintelu O. H. and Salau L. A.

Bancroftian filariasis, caused by the filarial parasitic nematode Wuchereria bancrofti, affects about 120 million people in the tropics and subtropics. The objectives of this study were to assess the potential vector competence of Cx. quinquefasciatus and to study it’s the temporal distribution and age structure in Benin City, Nigeria. This study was conducted between March and September 2006. Adults of Cx. quinquefasciatus were collected using aspirators while larvae were sampled using dippers and pipettes. Females were dissected and microscopically examined for filarial stages. No filarial parasite was detected. The bulk of the population was recorded between 0600 to 0700hrs (42.0%) and 0700hrs to 0800hrs (35.1%). The abundance of Cx quinquefasciatus adults and larvae at all sites were not significantly (P>0.05) different. The parous stage of Cx quinquefasciatus was significantly (P<0.05) higher than the nulliparous stage. This paper discusses the findings of this study and opined that the persistent occurrence of, and breeding habitat diversification by Cx. quinquefasciatus poses a serious epidemiological concern to the inhabitants of Benin City, Nigeria.