Seasonal changes of microfilarial infection and infectivity rates in mosquito populations within Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

Studies on the infection and infectivity rates of Wuchereria bancrofti in mosquito populations in Makurdi, Nigeria were carried out over a 12 month period in four localities. Adult female mosquitoes (4,320) were morphologically identified and dissected following standard keys and procedures. 1,040 (24.1%) were Anopheles gambiae s.l.; 641 (14.8%) were Anopheles funestus Giles and 2,418 (56.0%) were Culex quinquefasciatus Say while 221 (5.1%) were tagged ‘unidentified’ Anopheles species. The overall microfilarial infection and infectivity rates were 10.1% and 4.8% respectively. The microfilarial infection and infectivity rates differed significantly (ANOVA; χ2 test p