Diversity of larval habitats of Anopheles mosquitoes in urban areas of Benin and influence of their physicochemical and bacteriological characteristics on larval density.

BACKGROUND

The implementation of anti-larval strategies in the fight against malaria vectors requires fundamental knowledge of their oviposition sites. The aim of this study was to assess the spatial and temporal distribution of Anopheles breeding sites as well as the influence of abiotic and biotic factors on the proliferation of larvae in urban and non-urban areas of Benin.

METHODS

Sampling of Anopheles larvae was carried out during the rainy and dry seasons in urbanized and non-urbanized areas of the cities of Cotonou, Bohicon, Parakou, and Natitingou in Benin. The Anopheles larval breeding sites were georeferenced and characterized by their nature, type, physicochemical (pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, turbidity, salinity) and biological attributes (larval density and coliform density).

RESULTS

A total of 198 positive breeding sites for Anopheles larvae were identified, comprising 163 (82.3%) in the rainy season and 35 (17.7%) in the dry season. Out of these larval habitats, 61.9% were located in urbanized areas, and were predominantly puddles. Principal component analysis revealed a high positive correlation of larval density with temperature and dissolved oxygen, and with salinity in the coastal zone. In addition, cross-sectional analysis of the microbiological results with larval density showed a significant negative correlation between larval productivity and faecal coliform load.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicated the presence of multiple larval habitats of Anopheles in the urban areas which were created through human activities, and associations between larval density and intrinsic factors of the habitats such as temperature, dissolved oxygen and faecal coliform load. This type of information may be useful for the implementation of appropriate control strategies in urban areas, including regulation of the human activities that lead to the creation of breeding sites, proper environmental management and targeted larvicidal use.