article · Tropical Medicine and Health
Tanzania has faced periodic dengue outbreaks since 2010, yet vector dynamics and transmission risks remain poorly understood in many areas. A cross-sectional survey conducted in Kinondoni district, Dar es Salaam, between December 2019 and January 2020 evaluated mosquito populations, breeding habits and viral presence. Trapping and compound inspections revealed that Aedes aegypti comprised 16.8 percent of the 1416 adult female mosquitoes collected. Over 60 percent of 333 water-holding containers inspected contained Aedes larvae or pupae, with discarded car tyres, flowerpots and plastic containers serving as key breeding sites. Larval indicators were high, with an overall House Index of 55.1 percent and a Breteau Index of 114.2. Although none of the 763 female Aedes mosquitoes tested positive for dengue virus by RT-PCR, the high abundance of vectors indicates a serious risk of future transmission.
Dengue fever is a growing health threat across urban Africa. Highlighting the abundance of vector mosquitoes and their preferred artificial breeding containers helps municipal authorities identify local transmission hotspots. Understanding these infestation levels allows public health teams to design targeted container-cleaning campaigns and community interventions before active viral outbreaks emerge.
This field study does not develop a product, but its findings can inform municipal public health programmes and commercial pest management providers. The data identifies specific container types, such as discarded tyres and domestic plastic vessels, that require targeted larvicidal treatments or vector control devices. Because the research represents observational field surveillance, any related commercial services or targeted eradication technologies remain in early, applied planning stages.
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BACKGROUND: Tanzania has experienced periodic dengue outbreaks with increased incidence since 2010. However, there is limited information on vector dynamics and transmission risk in most parts of the country. This study was conducted to determine Aedes mosquito abundance, larval indices and dengue virus infection rate as risk indicators for DENV transmission in Kinondoni district, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in three wards of Kinondoni district in Tanzania between December 2019 and January 2020. In each ward, three streets were randomly selected for adult and immature mosquito sampling. The adult mosquitoes were collected using Mosquito Magnet traps, while mosquito larvae and pupae were inspected in water-holding containers in the selected household compounds. The detection of dengue virus (DENV) in female Aedes mosquitoes was done using a one-step reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. RESULTS: Of the 1416 adult female mosquitoes collected, Ae. aegypti accounted for 16.8% (n = 238). A total of 333 water-holding containers were inspected and 201 (60.4%) had at least an Aedes larvae or pupae. Water-holding containers supporting the breeding of Aedes larvae and pupae included discarded car tires, flowerpots and small and large plastic containers. The overall House Index, Container Index and Breteau Index were 55.1%, 60.4% and 114.2, respectively. None of the 763 female Aedes mosquitoes tested by RT-PCR was found to be infected with DENV. CONCLUSION: The presence and abundance Ae. aegypti mosquitoes and the large proportion of water-holding containers infested with the mosquito larvae and pupae put residents of Kinondoni district at high risk of DENV transmission. Our findings emphasize the need for continuous mosquito vector surveillance and control to prevent the possibility of future DENV outbreaks in Tanzania.
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DOI: 10.1186/s41182-021-00395-z
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