Role of some environmental factors in modulating seasonal abundance of potential Japanese encephalitis vectors in Assam, India.

ABSTRACT

Temporal changes in the abundance of host-seeking, potential Japanese encephalitis (JE) vector mosquitos and the role of some ecological factors that are modulating the abundance of vector mosquitos were studied. Vector surveillance was conducted for one year in 4 JE prone villages of Dibrugarh, Assam. Among potential JE vectors, the most abundant mosquito was Culex vishnui s.s. comprising about 22.32%. Maximum density of the mosquito was found during the month of April and another peak was observed in the month of September. The influence of meteorological factors on the abundance of JE vectors was found to vary from species to species. The final multiple regression equations (after variables were selected using STEPWISE procedure) consisted of a combination of linear, quadratic, cubic and interactive ecological variables and accounted for 25-98% of the variations in the abundance of JE vector mosquitos. Complex interactions among environmental factors, such as minimum and maximum temperature, rainfall and flood level are involved in modulating the seasonal abundance of mosquitos. A time lag is involved before a cause and effect relationship is established between environmental parameters (independent variables) and entomological variables (dependent variables). Inundation caused by flooding is favorable for mansonioid mosquito species whereas it has an adverse effect on non-mansonioid mosquito species.