Bioecology and Vectorial Capacity of Aedes mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Irinjalakuda Municipality, Kerala, India in Relation to Disease Transmission

Abstract

The larval habitats of mosquitoes were investigated in Irinjalakuda, Thrissur in order to determine the breeding sites of the existing mosquito fauna belong to Aedes and its possible public health implications on the residents of the Municipality. It has been officially reported that the study area is a disease prone zone having affected by 117 Chickunguniya, 779 Dengue, and 1419 Malaria cases for the last eight years. Thirty habitat spots were randomly selected and sampled using plankton nets, dippers, and pippets. Eight species of Aedes mosquitoes were encountered namely Ae. scatophagoides, Ae. pseudotoeniatus, Ae. longerostris, Ae. eagypti, Ae. vittatus, Ae, albopictus, Ae. Walbus and Ae. Vexanus. Out of these, Ae. eagypti, Ae. vittatus, Ae, albopictus, and Ae. Vexans are potential vectors of communicable diseases. The study site provided diverse habitats to Aedes species such as tree hole, cemented tanks, stream pools, fountains, ditches, mud pot, plastic containers, tyers, plant pot, rocky pool, pods, nuts, tin, flower bracts, internodes, latex collecting containers, bowls, duck weed ponds, coconut shell, leaf axils, temporary pools, fish ponds, bamboo and containers. Progressing history of disease outbreak by Aedes species in the study area inspire an intensification of the vector surveillance activities.