Entomological assessment of the potential for malaria transmission in Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya.
Loading...
Date
2009-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Background & objectives: Malaria in urban and highland areas is emerging as a significant public health threat in Kenya which has seen a dramatic increase in malaria transmission in low risk
highland areas. The objectives of the study were to find and incriminate potential vectors of malaria
in Kibera, Nairobi.
Methods: One hundred and twenty houses within Lindi area of the southern central section of
Kibera slum in Nairobi were chosen randomly and global positioning system (GPS) mapped. Day
resting indoor mosquitoes were collected from January 2001 to December 2003. Larvae were
collected between 2002 and 2004 and reared in the insectary to adults.
Results: A total of 176,993 mosquitoes were collected. Out of this, 176,910 were Culex fatigans
and 83 were Anopheles gambiae s.l. Mosquito population peaked during the long rains in April to
May and the short rains in November and December. Blood meal analysis of An. gambiae s.l.
female mosquitoes revealed 0.97 human blood index. No mosquito was found positive for
Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites. Anopheles gambiae s.l. mosquitoes were found breeding in
polluted water and 95% of the larvae were identified as An. arabiensis.
Interpretation & conclusion: Anopheles gambiae s.l., malaria vector is present in Nairobi and it
breeds in polluted water. Anopheles arabiensis is predominantly preferring humans as blood meal source, thus, showing ecological flexibility within the species.
Description
Keywords
Anopheles arabiensis, Anopheles gambiae, Kenya, malaria transmission, urban area
Citation
Kasili Sichangi, Odemba Nicholas, Ngere Francis G, Kamanza John B, Muema Alexander M, Kutima Helen L. Entomological assessment of the potential for malaria transmission in Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya. Journal of Vector Borne Diseases. 2009 Dec; 46(4): 273-279.