Indoor resting densities and blood meal preferences of malaria vector mosquitoes in Bauchi state, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the indoor resting densities and blood meal preferences of malaria vector mosquitoes in nine Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Bauchi State, Nigeria. A total of 6935 adult mosquitoes were collected from 270 rooms using PSC, with an overall indoor resting density of 2-4 mosquitoes per room. Results showed that houses with open eaves and no windows had higher indoor resting mosquito densities, increasing the risk of malaria transmission. The study suggests that indoor microclimate, cooking, sleeping, and livestock keeping practices contribute to the indoor occurrence of mosquitoes. Malaria vector mosquitoes exhibited endophilic behavior, emphasizing the need for mosquito-proof houses as a control strategy. The study also found that indoor resting adult mosquitoes increased rapidly following rainfall, consistent with previous studies. Analysis of 1000 blood-fed female Anopheles gambiae by ELISA revealed that humans are the primary source of blood meals (52.4%), followed by goats (12.8%), cows (9.2%), sheep (7.5%), and pigs (1.6%). The results showed varied feeding patterns across the study areas, with some areas exhibiting mixed feeding behavior. The predominance of human blood meals is consistent with the vectors' anthropophilic nature, highlighting their role in malaria transmission. These findings highlight the importance of environmental factors, housing design, and understanding vector feeding habits in malaria transmission and control.