Surveillance of Aedes mosquito species in villages of Jalna district, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Monthly ovitrap surveillance was conducted in ten villages of Jalna district, Maharashtra, India to study the presence and seasonal abundance of Aedes vector species. Ovitraps were installed indoors and outdoors in randomly selected locations, and the eggs retrieved from the positive ovitraps were hatched and reared for identification of the species. Total 4310 ovitraps were recovered with 1088 positive ovitraps, and the species found were Ae. Aegypti, Ae. Albopictus, and Ae. Vittatus. Ovitrap index of Ae. Aegypti was found to be significantly higher compared to Ae. Albopictus and Ae. Vittatus, and the monthly mean ovitrap index ranged between 7.4% to 53.0%, 0.3% to 12.7% and 0.3% to 1.0% respectively with no significant difference between indoor and outdoor ovitraps (P>0.05). Our observations revealed dengue vector Ae. Aegypti to be predominant species throughout the year in the study sites and its breeding association with human habitat. This study was undertaken, in concurrent to our phased evaluation studies on genetically engineered OX513A Ae. Aegypti strain, to generate baseline data on natural population of Ae. Aegypti for selection of test sites to demonstrate suppression of Ae. Aegypti population by sustained releases of OX513A strain male adults under open field conditions in future. In addition, our observations contribute to the knowledge on seasonal abundance of Aedes mosquito species to strategize for vector mosquito management in rural areas.