Assessment of physicochemical properties of aquatic habitats associated with Anopheles mosquitoes in eight communities of Gombe State, Nigeria

Abstract

Mosquitoes are the most dangerous animal on earth. Anopheles mosquitoes in particular are known to be the vector of human malaria parasites in the Sub–Saharan African. This study investigated the influence of physicochemical parameters on the abundance and distribution of Anopheles mosquito larvae in Gombe State, Nigeria. A year-long larval survey was conducted in eight communities across Akko and Kaltungo Local Government Areas (LGAs). Water from three different sampling points were collected. A total of 23 parameters, comprising physical, chemical and heavy metal, were assessed. The geographic coordinates of Anopheles larval breeding sites that are positive were recorded. The results revealed significant differences (ρ < 0.05) in the 23 parameters across the breeding sites and communities (F = 9.102, p < 0.001), except for salinity and turbidity (ρ > 0.05). Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) showed that An. maculipalpis’s preferred breeding sites were positively associated with zinc, while An. pretoriensis and An. rufipes were linked to similar physicochemical characteristics of water temperature, total hardness, pH, sulphate, chloride and chemical oxygen demand. Additionally, nitrate (NO3) was positively associated with the density and abundance of An. gambiae s.l. However, parameters such as biological oxygen demand (BOD), arsenic, iron, electrical conductivity, nickel, cadmium, and copper showed no association with the abundance of any Anopheles species. The study concludes that the abundance and distribution of Anopheles mosquitoes are influenced by the physicochemical properties of their aquatic habitats. Understanding these breeding habitats can enhance efforts to manage, control, and eliminate malaria and othermosquito-borne diseases in Gombe State.