Ecological Factors Affecting Diversity and Abundance of Mosquito Larvae in Nile Delta, Egypt

Abstract

Mosquitoes are vectors for many pathogens that threaten human and animal health around the world. The present study investigated the correlation between the physicochemical parameters of the breeding habitats and the diversity and abundance of mosquitoes in two villages, Nile Delta, Egypt. A total of 258 breeding places were found positive for mosquito larvae including 46 (17.8%) pools, 41 (15.9%) irrigation basin, 36 (14.0%) drainage ditches, 28 (10.9%) unused wells, 27 (10.5%) irrigation ditches, 23 (8.9%) canals, 22 (8.5%) ground pits, 19 (7.4%) drainages, and 16 (6.2%) temporary pools in Barqata south the Delta Nile. a total of 370 breeding places were found positive for mosquito larvae including 48 (13.0%) rice fields, 46 (12.4%) unused wells, 44 (11.9%) drainage ditches, 40 (10.8%) sakia pits, 36 (9.7%) canals, 34 (9.2%) drainages, 25 (6.8%) pools, 24 (6.5%) swamps, 22 (5.9%) ground pits, 21 (5.7%) irrigation channel, 19 (5.1%) irrigation basin, and 11 (3.0%) temporary pools, respectively in El-Qantara village. Unused wells and pools (340.0 and 278.3 larvae/dip) were the most vital breeding habitats in Barqata village, while rice fields, drainages, and pools formed the largest sources of mosquito breeding in El-Qantara village and contained the highest density of mosquito larvae (619.2, 513.3 and 432.5 larvae/dip). The occurrence of Culex pipiens in polluted water indicates a real risk and the potential for disease transmission. Mosquito larval density was positively correlated with temperature, salinity, nitrate, and conductivity. The results indicated that unused wells and pools are a widespread and permanent source of breeding mosquitoes.