Surveillance of Populations of Aedes (Stegomyia) Mosquitoes at the Autonomous Port of Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) - Abstract
Aedes mosquitoes are highly invasive and can survive in temperate as well as tropical climates. They transmit a number of major world’s deadly diseases. A monitoring of potential vectors of arboviruses initiated in Abidjan in 2009-2010 allowed noting the presence of Aedes albopictus at the autonomous port of Abidjan. Thus, this study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of Aedes populations and assess the potential health risks.
All emerging adults from eggs collected by ovitraps were Aedes aegypti. The analysis of environmental factors reveals that the presence of vegetation around ovitraps significantly influences its use by mosquitoes. Furthermore, human activity also promotes the use of ovitraps installed nearby. Eight different potential breeding habitats were found. Tarpaulins (36.7%) were the predominant potential breeding habitats followed tires (30.4%). Aedes aegypti has infested 88.7% of total positive habitats. Larvae of Culex and Anopheles have colonized respectively 7.5% and 3.8% of positive habitats. The most productive Aedes aegypti larval habitats were found to be tarpaulins and cavities of concrete electricity posts producing 47.6 and 30.7% of pupae respectively.
Port health authorities should develop an appropriate action plan to control the density of mosquitoes and minimize potential risks to global health with emphasis on vector surveillance.