title: Epidemiology of tree-hole breeding mosquitoes in the tropical rainforest of Imo State, south-east Nigeria.
abstract: The study of tree-hole breeding mosquitoes was carried out in the tropical rainforest of Imo State Nigeria (two rural areas and two forest reserves in some parts of Orlu Senatorial Zone) between May-October 2002. Using standard entomological procedures, two macrohabitats (natural tree-holes and bamboo traps) and two microhabitats (leaf axils of cocoyams/pineapples and leaf axils of plantain/banana) were sampled for various mosquito species. Mosquitoes were recovered from all the various biotypes sampled. Types of mosquitoes species encountered, their relative abundance, as well as genera varied significantly during the study (p<0.05). Four genera of mosquitoes: Aedes, Culex, Anopheles and Toxorhynchites were recovered while 16 species of mosquitoes encountered include: Aedes aegypti, Ae. africanus, Ae. simpsoni, Ae. albopictus, Ae. stokesi, Ae. taylori, Ae. apicoargenteus, Culex quinquefasciatus, Cx. nebulosus, Cx. trigripes, Cx. decens, Anopheles gambiae, An. funiestus, An. coustani and Toxorhynchites viridibasis. Most of the mosquitoes showed oviposition preferences for one or more habitats. The presence of Ae. africanus, Ae. simpsoni and Ae. aegypti indicate that the study areas were at risk of yellow fever epidemic. The presence of Anopheles and Culex species ensured endemicity of malaria and filariasis, while the recovery of Ae. albopictus in this region suggests a possible outbreak of dengue fever in future if not properly controlled.
authors.affiliation: Tropical Disease Research Unit, Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Imo State University, Owerri, P.M.B 2000 Owerri, Nigeria. jc_anosike@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Jude C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Anosike
authors.forename: Bertram E B
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Nwoke
authors.forename: Anthony N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Okere
authors.forename: Ene E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Oku
authors.forename: Joe E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Asor
authors.forename: Ifeyinwa O
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Emmy-Egbe
authors.forename: Desmond A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Adimike
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D001947:Breeding; D003465:Culex / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D009033:Culicidae / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005370:Filarioidea / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods*; D009549:Nigeria; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012621:Seasons; D014197:Trees; D014329:Tropical Climate; D015005:Yellow fever virus / Q000302:isolation & purification