Mosquito population (Culicidae) as potential vector of Japanese encephalitis virus transmission in pigs close to settlements in Kalasey Satu village Minahasa regency

Abstract

Japanese encephalitis is a zoonotic viral disease that is transmitted by a vector mosquito bite of the Culex sp. containing the JE virus. The JE virus belongs to the Flavivirus family that attacks the Central Nervus System and has a severity of 20 - 40. In pigs, this disease can cause abortion and mummification. Pig is an important livestock in the JE virus transmission cycle, because it is the host of the reservoir and is an amplifier. This study aims to determine the Culex species which has the potential as a vector of virus transmission in pigs and humans who live close to the settlements. This study obtained the relative abundance (Ra) of Culex in pig pens adjacent to settlements. The abundance of Culex caught in cages were: Culex vishnui (Ra = 27.8); Cx. gelidus (Ra = 27,3); Cx. quinquefasciatus (18,7); Cx. tritaeniorhyncus (Ra = 12,6); Cx. pseudovishnui (Ra = 11.1) and Cx. fuscocephala (Ra = 2.5%). The temperature and humidity ranges during the exposure of the mosquitoes ranged from 270C-300C and 60% -64%. Culex vishnui and Culex quinquefasciatus were most caught between 22.00 pm - 02.00 am. The catch of Culex mosquitoes in a cage, explains the activity of mosquitoes in finding food sources. From the research results, it can be concluded that Culex vishnui and Cx. quinquefasciatus has a high relative abundance category (Ra ˃ 20% - ≤ 30). Thus Cx. vishnui and Cx. quinquefrasciatus has the potential as a vector for transmission of the Japanese encephalitis virus in pigs and humans who live near the pen.