Background: The present study was designed to quantify the contributions of water pH and hardness required for development and adult fitness indices of Culex quinquefasciatus (Cx. quinquefasciatus) mosquitoes. To this end, seven water pH conditions (pH 4.0-10.0) and five hardness levels (0, 30, 90, 150 and 210 mg/L CaCO 3 ) were simulated following standard protocols. Day-old larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus were reared in these simulated water-media conditions till emergence. Entomological indices for immature developmental success and adult biological fitness parameters were measured. Result: The results revealed significant effects of pH and water levels on the entomological parameters measured for the species. pH values of 4 and 10 and high hardness values ≥ 150 mg/L CaCO 3 reduced immature developmental successes and adult biological fitness indices. The optimum range of values for the development of the species is respectively pH 5-8 and 0-90 mg/L CaCO 3 . Conclusion: The present study reveals the significant negative influence of extreme pH and hardness levels on mosquito development and fitness indices; thus, it may be providing baseline information for developing sustainable robust vector control strategies for disease reduction through habitat manipulation.
Infestations caused by penetration of Tunga penetrans (Siphonaptera: Hectopsyllidae) in cutaneous sub-layers present morbidities and resulting mortalities if surgical treatment remains the obtainable. Considering the neglected nature of this infestation and the absence of marketable product, we report an observation on the use of grounded naphthalene in kerosene ointment, and powder of Piper guineense in coconut oil ointment as affordable treatment of embedded tungiasis flea in Igbokoda. A total of 80 individuals partitioned into two groups of 40 individuals each were assigned the locally made topical ointment irrespective of stages of tungiasis lesions. The mean of stage I, II and III tungiasis lesions treated with grounded naphthalene in kerosene ointment respectively decreased from 1.83, 3.42 and 3.89 to 0 after 5–6 days ( p < .05). Also, the mean of stage I, II and III tungiasis lesions treated with grounded P. guineense ointment respectively decreased from 1.52, 3.10 and 5.00 to 0 after 6 to 7 days of treatment exposure ( p < .05). Very high significant difference between stages and exposure days of participants assigned the two topical ointment was recorded p < .0001 and p = .0005 respectively. Naphthalene ointment and to a lesser extent P. guineense ointment is best to control and hinder development cycle of embedded fleas irrespective of infested part and stage of infection.
Larval crowding is one of the abiotic factors affecting biological fitness in mosquitoes. This study aims at elucidating, quantitatively, the influence of more larval crowding on aspects of fitness in Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito. To this end, day-old larvae of the species were reared in 4 density regimens equivalent to 1 larva in 1.25, 2.5, 5, and 10 mL of distilled water. Developmental indices, adult fitness indices, and accumulation and utilisation of teneral reserves for metamorphosis were determined at these density regimens. The results revealed varying significant negative effects of larval density on all fitness indices measured for the species. The study also revealed high utilisation of teneral reserves for metamorphosis at high larval densities. The information generated will be useful in making informed-decisions in allocating scare resources for vector control, although field trials are advocated to establish these laboratory findings.
Aims: The recent yellow fever outbreak in Delta State, especially in Ika North East local government, triggered the need for this study. Background: Diseases caused by Aedes are by far raising serious concerns in the world. Objective: To evaluate the larvicidal activity on the use of petroleum products in the control of Aedes mosquitoes. Methods: Mosquito species were collected using 350ml deep ladle and identified in the field using their resting positions in their local habitats. Larvae and pupae were separately exposed to 0.005, 0.01, and 0.02%ml of kerosene and petrol in single and mixed forms. The experimental sets were triplicated. Data was analyzed using ANOVA and Turkey’s test to compare mortality, and time of mortality. LC50 and LC95 were computed using Probit analysis. Results: Results revealed that all concentrations of treatment caused complete mortality in larvae except in 0.005%ml and 0.01%ml of kerosene alone and kerosene and petrol mixture at 50 minutes of exposure. All concentrations of treatment equally caused complete mortality in pupae except in 0.005%ml of kerosene (Mean= 10.00) at 30 minutes. The differences between mortality and time mortality records were significant (p< 0.05). Kerosene and petrol mixture and kerosene alone had the lower LC50 and LC95 0.0021 and 0.0088ml respectively in the larvae group. Kerosene and petrol mixture had lower LC50 and LC95 0.0037 and 0.0050, respectively. Conclusion: Therefore, scaling up this intervention on a large scale in endemic areas would reduce larvae density and disease outbreaks.
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