Adebote David A, Oniye Sonnie J, Muhammed Yunus A
Department of Biological Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
J Vector Borne Dis. 2008 Mar;45(1):21-8.
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Rainwater often collects in depressions on rocks to form pools that are ideal breeding sites of mosquito vectors of diseases. Knowledge on the existence of disease vectors in these remote and relatively inaccessible locations could improve epidemiologic understanding and control capabilities. This study identifies mosquito species, their relative abundance and physicochemical characteristics of breeding microhabitats in rock pools on four inselbergs in northern Nigeria.
Soup ladle dipper was used to obtain representative samples of larval mosquitoes breeding in 141 rock pools on four inselbergs. Physicochemical parameters (depth, electrical conductivity, pH, surface area, temperature and total dissolved solids) of the pools were determined. Larvae were preserved in 70% alcohol and identified microscopically to species using taxonomic keys. Statistical correlation analysis and ANOVA were used to test the associations between physicochemical parameters and mosquito abundance, and for differences amongst inselbergs.
Of 2991 larvae, five species of mosquito distributed in three genera (Anopheles, Aedes and Culex) including Ae. vittatus (92.88%), An. ardensis (0.13%), An. distinctus (1.67%), An. wilsoni (0.13%) and Cx. ingrami (5.18%) bred in the rock pools, Up to five species occurred per pool in various conspecific and heterogeneric combinations. Except for Ae. vittatus, the physicochemical parameters of the pools correlate significantly with species abundance.
Ae. vittatus, a potential vector of yellow fever in Nigeria breeds profusely in rock pools on inselbergs around Zaria. For comprehensive vector implication and control, rock pools should be amongst the habitats of focus in yellow fever epidemiology.
雨水常常聚集在岩石的洼地里形成水潭，而这些水潭是疾病蚊媒的理想滋生地。了解这些偏远且相对难以到达的地方存在的病媒，有助于提高流行病学认识和防控能力。本研究确定了尼日利亚北部四座孤山上岩池中蚊子的种类、相对丰度以及滋生微生境的理化特征。
用汤勺舀取法从四座孤山上141个岩池中获取具有代表性的幼虫样本。测定了水潭的理化参数（深度、电导率、pH值、表面积、温度和总溶解固体）。幼虫保存在70%乙醇中，使用分类检索表在显微镜下鉴定到种。采用统计相关分析和方差分析来检验理化参数与蚊子丰度之间的关联，以及孤山之间的差异。
在2991只幼虫中，分布于三个属（按蚊属、伊蚊属和库蚊属）的五种蚊子在岩池中滋生，包括条斑伊蚊（92.88%）、阿氏按蚊（0.13%）、独疟按蚊（1.67%）、威尔逊按蚊（0.13%）和英氏库蚊（5.18%）。每个水潭中最多有五个种类以同种和异种组合的形式出现。除条斑伊蚊外，水潭的理化参数与物种丰度显著相关。
条斑伊蚊是尼日利亚黄热病的潜在病媒，在扎里亚周围孤山的岩池中大量滋生。为了全面了解病媒的作用并进行防控，岩池应成为黄热病流行病学重点关注的栖息地之一。
