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Species composition and abundance of mosquito larvae in relation with their habitat characteristics in Mazandaran Province, northern Iran

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 February 2017

S.H. Nikookar
Affiliation:
Student Research Committee, Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, Health Sciences Research Center, School of Public Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
M. Fazeli-Dinan
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health and Health Sciences Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Science, Sari, Iran
S. Azari-Hamidian
Affiliation:
School of Health, Research Center of Health and Environment, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
S.N. Mousavinasab
Affiliation:
Department of Biostatistics, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
M. Arabi
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
S.P. Ziapour
Affiliation:
Student Research Committee, Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, Health Sciences Research Center, School of Public Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Department of Parasitology, North Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Amol, Iran
J. Shojaee
Affiliation:
Health Sciences Research Center, Students Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
A. Enayati*
Affiliation:
Head of Medical Entomology Department, School of Public Health and Health Sciences Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
*
*Author for correspondence Phone: +98 9111522209 Fax: +98 113543748 E-mail: ahmadali_enayati@yahoo.com, aenayati@mazums.ac.ir

Abstract

Mosquitoes transmit a variety of diseases to humans. Their abundance and distribution are related to the characteristics of larval habitats. Mosquito larvae were collected from 120 natural and artificial habitats in 30 villages of 16 counties using standard 350 ml dippers and pipette, on a monthly basis from May–December 2014 in Mazandaran Province, northern Iran. Larval habitat characteristics were recorded separately, based on the conditions of the habitats (permanent or temporary, stagnant or running), type of habitats (natural or artificial), vegetation, exposure to sun, type of bed, water condition (clear or turbid), expanse (m), depth (cm, m) and temperature (°C) of habitats. The relationship between larval density and environmental variables was assessed by Chi-square tests. Totally, 19,840 larvae from three genera and 16 species were collected and identified. Anopheles maculipennis s.l. and Culex pipiens were the dominant species and collected with the highest density in plain areas. The highest number of larvae were collected from natural habitats (60.34%), including; river edge, marsh, pit and wetlands; with temporary and stagnant water, expanse of 0–5 m, depth of 1–25 cm, without plant, shadow-sun, muddy floor, turbid water, temperature 20–25°C and in sunny conditions. River edge and rice fields for An. maculipennis s.l and, wetlands and discarded tires for Cx. pipiens were the main larval habitats in the province. Statistical analysis revealed significant relation between occurrence of An. maculipennis s.l., Cx. pipiens, Culex torrentium, Culex mimeticus and Cs. annulata with each of the environmental variables (P < 0.001). These findings are essential in expanding our knowledge of the vectors ecology specially the type of habitat preference and will be beneficial in larval control programs.

Type
Research Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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