Journal of Public Health and Diseases

Monitoring and understanding the bionomics of mosquitoes is a key to devising ecologically friendly, alternative vector control strategies.  Malaria and lymphatic filariasis are among the major mosquito-borne diseases primarily transmitted by female Anopheles and Culex mosquitoes, respectively, in Sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria mortality remains alarmingly high in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, which accounts for 26% of all global malaria deaths. This study was carried out to characterise the physicochemical parameters of breeding sites utilised by mosquito vector populations from June 2022 through October 2023. The physicochemical properties of Anopheles and Culex mosquito breeding habitats in three communities, each of the two Local Government Areas (Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt), Rivers State, Nigeria, were analysed. Water samples from different study breeding habitats for physico-chemical investigation were collected concurrently with larvae and pupae in dark specimen bottles of 500 ml capacity to guarantee accurate representation. A total of 12 water quality parameters were measured from samples collected at six sites (three from each of the two LGAs). The parameters measured included alkalinity (mg/L), chloride (Cl⁻) (mg/L), electrical conductivity (EC) (µS/cm), nitrite (NO₂) (mg/L), sulphate, phosphate, hardness, dissolved oxygen (DO), total hydrocarbon content (THC), temperature, pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), and total hydrocarbon content (THC) using standard methods. Mosquito larvae and pupae (Anopheles spp and Culex spp) were sampled and collected from these habitats, reared to adulthood under controlled conditions, and morphologically identified. Results from the study showed significantly higher levels of TDS, conductivity, alkalinity, DO, hardness, nitrates, sulphates, phosphates, and THC compared to the reference breeding habitats, with THC reaching 384 mg/l and 350 mg/l in Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (sl) and Culex species breeding habitats, respectively. This study demonstrates that Anopheles and Culex mosquitoes can thrive in highly contaminated habitats marked by elevated organic pollution indicators, such as high THC levels. The findings highlight significant public health implications, including increased nuisance biting and a heightened risk of disease transmission in polluted environments. These results underscore the need for improved environmental management to mitigate the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.