MOLECULAR CHARACTERISATION OF MALARIA VECTORS IN IJEBU-NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

Literature has confirmed the life-threatening vectoral nature of female Anopheles mosquitoes. Paucity of data on the composition of the species and diversity of Anophelesmosquitoes that transmit malaria disease in IjebuNorth Local Government Area (INLGA) of Nigeria necessitates this present study with the main objectives anchored on molecular diversity and entomological indices of malaria vectors. Six communities (Ojowo, OkeAgbo, Oru- Ijebu, Awa-Ijebu, Oke-Igan and Ibipe) were randomly selected for the study with ten (10) apartments from each community. Mosquito samples were collected using Pyrethrum Spray Catch (PSC) method with modified exit trap on a monthly basis for a period of one year. The specimens were preserved and sorted through morphological identification using reference guides. Mosquitoes were characterised molecularly using Polymerase Chain Reaction- Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (PCR-RAPD) method. Molecularly, four species An. gambiae s.s., An. funestus s.s., An. arabiensis and An. leesoni were identified and which was better identification than the morphological approach. An. gambiae s.s. occurred most 90 (33.83%) followed by An. funestus s.s. 65 (24.44%), An. arabiensis 58 (21.8%) and An. leesoni with 53 (19.92%). In conclusion, this study is able to provide a long needed identification of Anophelesspecies that transmit malaria in Ijebu North which is intended to serve as background information for subsequent studies.
However, periodic surveillance must be employed in order to update the malaria vector database, while
government at all levels should improve funding for research on malaria vectors because of their persistent resistance to insecticides.