Seasonal activity of adult mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in a probable dirofilariasis and West Nile infection focus in northern Iran

عنوان دوره: دومین کنگره بین المللی حشره شناسی ایران
نویسندگان
چکیده
Introduction: There are at least 69 species of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Iran and at least 30 species in Guilan Province, a probable dirofilariasis and West Nile infection focus. There are a few published documents in the country that deal with adult sampling, especially using light traps, which include culicines. That is the reason why there is very little information about the seasonal activity of culicine adults in Iran. In this regard, a study was carried out by means of light traps in Guilan Province.
Materials and Methods: This survey was carried out to study the seasonal activity of adult mosquitoes, especially probable vectors of West Nile virus and dirofilariasis, in Guilan Province during August–December 2015 and April–October 2016. In seven counties adult collection was carried out at least two times in variable sites and every two weeks in a fixed site (Pareh Village of Rudbar County) using light traps and manual aspirators (hand catch).
Results: In total, 16,357 adult mosquitoes were collected and identified using morphological characters, including eighteen species representing eight genera: Anopheles claviger, An. hyrcanus, An. maculipennis s.l., An. pseudopictus, An. superpictus s.l., Aedes vexans, Coquillettidia richiardii, Culex mimeticus, Cx. hortensis, Cx. perexiguus, Cx. pipiens, Cx. theileri, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus, Culiseta annulata, Ochlerotatus caspius s.l., Oc. geniculatus, Oc. pulcritarsis, Orthopodomyia pulcripalpis and Uranotaenia unguiculata. Culex perexiguus and Oc. pulcritarsis were found for the first time in the province and Or. pulcripalpis for the first time in Iran. The most prevalent species were Cx. theileri (23.59%), Cx. tritaeniorhynchus (20.75%), Cx. pipiens (19.37%), Ae. vexans (18.18%), An. pseudopictus (10.92%) and An. maculipennis s.l. (5.48%), respectively. In general, the active season of adult mosquitoes started from early May to early October in the fixed site. The peak of activity was late June for Cx. theileri and middle July for An. maculipennis s.l., An. pseudopictus and Cx. pipiens and late July for Cx. tritaeniorhynchus.
Discussion: The results of the present study for the adult abundance are mostly concordant with the previous findings in the province using larval collection. It is noteworthy that among the most prevalent species; An. maculipennis s.l., Ae. vexans, Cx. pipiens, Cx. theileri and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus are known the vectors of both West Nile virus and dirofilariasis. Finding the exact vectors of West Nile virus and dirofilariasis in the region is suggested for future studies using specific tests.
کلیدواژه ها