Prevalence of mosquito species in Chhura block of Raipur district of Chhattisgarh state.

Mosquitoes act as vectors for several diseases including malaria and filaria. In Indian scenario, Chhattisgarh is endemic for both the diseases. The present study on prevalence of mosquito population in block Chhura of Raipur district of Chhattisgarh state was undertaken between August 2002 and March 2004 to asses the distribution pattern of various species of mosquitoes and their seasonal variations. Indoor resting mosquitoes were collected from five villages by aspirator tube in the morning (06:00-08:00 hr) using torchlight. Adult mosquitoes were identified using standard morphological and pictorial keys. Altogether 11 species belonging to three genera viz., Anopheles (7 species), Armigeres (1 species) and Culex (3 species) were recorded during study period. Average man-hour mosquito density was high in February 2003 (62.15) & March 2003 (69.35) and declined gradually till June 2003. From July 2003, it started rising again and reached a peak in August (94.10)-September (91.60) 2003. The vector species i.e. Anopheles culicifacies and Anopheles annularis were recorded high in rainy and winter seasons.

Host preference of Culex quinquefasciatus in Raipur city of Chattisgarh state.

Indoor resting freshly engorged Culex quinquefasciatus collected from three different habitats viz., human, cattle and mixed dwellings of six localities of Raipur city, were analyzed for the source of blood meal by precipitin test. Of the 60 specimens from human dwellings 52 were positive for human blood with an anthropophilic index of 90%. Of the 25 specimens from cattlesheds 15 were positive for human blood with an index of 60%. Of the 20 specimens from mixed dwellings 12 showed human blood with an anthropophilic index of 63.15%. Thus, the Culex quinquefasciatus at Raipur city in Madhya Pradesh state is predominantly anthropophilic in nature irrespective of the nature of habitat of the mosquito vector.