The effects of climatic factors on the distribution and abundance of japanese encephalitis vectors in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, India.
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Date
2010-03
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Abstract
Background & objectives: Climatic attributes have been associated with relative mosquito abundance
and transmission of mosquito borne infections in many parts of the world, especially in warm and
tropical climatic regions. The main objectives of this study were to assess the change in seasonal
pattern of Japanese encephalitis (JE) vectors, their density, to elucidate whether the lagged climate
variables (precipitation, temperature and humidity) are associated with JE vector density, and to
determine if temperature and precipitation are similarly important for the rise in the number of
potential mosquito vectors for JE virus in the temperate climate of Andhra Pradesh, India.
Methods: Mosquito samples were collected from Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh using hand
catch and light-trap methods during 2002 to 2006. The type and abundance of recovered species
were compared to ecological correlates. In each geographic area, temperature and precipitation
are the two possible proxy variables for mosquito density, in conjunction with other seasonal
factors for JE epidemics.
Results: Out of the various mosquito species collected, Culex gelidus and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus
were noticed in high numbers. There was considerably high prevalence of Cx. gelidus (68.05%) in
urban area than in rural areas whereas, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus (57.51%) was found to be more in
rural areas than in the urban area. It is noticed that the factors such as rainfall and temperature
were found to be correlated with the per man hour (PMH) density, whereas the humidity was
inversely correlated with the PMH.
Interpretation & conclusion: The environmental and eco-climatic factors are assisting in enhancing
the breeding of these mosquitoes in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, India. Both Cx.
tritaeniorhyncus and Cx. gelidus are quite adaptable to these environmental conditions and this necessitates immediate control measures in both rural and urban areas of Kurnool district.
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Keywords
Culex gelidus, Culex tritaeniorhynchus, Japanese encephalitis, per man hour (PMH) density, rainfall, temperature
Citation
Murty U Suryanarayana, Rao M Srinivasa, Arunachalam N. The effects of climatic factors on the distribution and abundance of japanese encephalitis vectors in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, India. Journal of Vector Borne Diseases. 2010 Mar; 47(1): 26-32.