Species\' identification of Anopheles and Culex mosquitoes and its epidemiological implications in Yola, Nigeria

Indoor and outdoor bites' collections of gravid Anopheles and Culex mosquitoes were made with plastic aspirator from residential areas within Jimeta-Yola metropolis for three years (between March and May; August and October 2003 to 2005). They were identified using standard morphological keys and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The identification results of the dry season collections of Anopheles and Culex mosquitoes using morphological keys were Anopheles gambiae complex (64.0 %), Anopheles funestus complex (17.0 %), Anopheles pharoensis (9.0 %), Anopheles rhodesiensis (5.0%); Culex quinquefasciatus (40.5 %), Culex pipiens fatigans (32.4 %) and Culex tigripes (10.1 %). The results of the wet season collections were Anopheles gambiae complex (56.0 %), Anopheles funestus complex (19.6.0 %) Anopheles pharoensis (11.4 %), Anopheles rhodesiensis (7.0 %); others (4.0 %). There were no significant changes in the relative abundance of different species of Culex mosquitoes due to changes in season, except Culex pipiens fatigans (36.4 %) and Culex tigripes (12.4 %). Results of the PCR identifications confirmed that Anopheles gambiae complex consisted of Anopheles arabiensis (66.7%) and Anopheles gambiae s.s.(6.7%). The study shows that Anopheles and Culex mosquito species abound in the study area with potential health consequences in the transmission of malaria and filariasis all year round. Keywords: gravid, Anopheles, Culex, identification, PCR. Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol. 28 (2) 2007: pp. 114-11