Fauna and spatial distribution of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in River Nile State, Sudan

Abstract

Mosquito-borne diseases (MBDs) are a serious public health problem worldwide. The study was carried out from March 2015 to February 2016 to determine the fauna and distribution of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in ten sentinel sites in the River Nile State, Sudan. Mosquitoes were collected as adults from resting places and larvae from aquatic habitats. The location of mosquito collection was marked using a global positioning system (GPS). A total of 4,803 specimens were collected in the area. These comprised 9 mosquito species with Anopheles arabiensis (30.7%), and Culex univittatus (30.8%) formed the bulk of the collection. Variation was detected in the numbers of mosquitoes collected in different sentinel sites where the higher proportion was recorded in the Albawga site. The spatial distribution and the occurrence of the different species might indicate a high risk of transmission of several parasitic and viral MBDs in this state in the future. Serious planning, management, and decision-making towards vector control are urgently needed.