Abstract

Mosquitoes are known to transmit lymphatic filariasis (LF) which causes varying disease conditions in humans. This study assessed indoor mosquitoes and their parity status in some communities of Ose Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria. Endophilic mosquitoes were collected from 122 consented participants’ houses of various building structures using the Pyrethrum Spray Catch method. The mosquitoes were identified morphologically using taxonomic keys and dissected for parity using standard procedures. Results showed that from the 760 females collected, Anopheles gambiae complex were 84.9%, Anopheles funestus group (13.1%), Anopheles mocheti (1.2%), Mansonia sp. (0.5%) and Culex sp. (0.3%). Highest collection of 338 (44.6%) mosquitoes were obtained from houses in Idogun community while houses in Imeri community had the lowest 122 (16.1%), however no significant difference (p>0.05) exist between the number of mosquitoes caught and the communities. On parity and infectivity status of the mosquitoes, 558 (73.4%) of the female mosquitoes were nulliparous. The monthly abundance of mosquitoes were July (136), August (146), September (168), October (130), November (102), and December (76). Analyzing housing type and number of mosquitoes collected, it was observed that the least amount of female mosquitoes (20) was caught in the Block houses. Other entomological indices showed the Indoor Resting Density to be 6.85 and Human Biting Rate (0.40). The presences of the different species of mosquitoes are indicative that any could serve as possible vectors in the transmission of LF in the communities.