Diversity and Abundance of Mosquitoes in the Seaport Area of San Pedro (Côte d’Ivoire)

Abstract

Introduction: As part of the implementation of arbovirus vector surveillance at the Seaport of San Pedro by the International Health Regulations, entomological surveys were conducted from March to July 2018 to determine the diversity and abundance of putative arbovirus vectors. Method: Mosquitoes were collected as immatures and adult stages in the activity and residential areas of the San Pédro Seaport platform. Results:A total of 7 and 14 species of mosquitoes were collected in the activity and residential areas respectively, with a dominance of the genera Culex species (5 in the activity area and 10 in the residential area). Only Aedes aegypti had a high frequency of occurrence with 47.29% in the activity area and 61.97% in the residential area. This species was accessory in activity areas and regular in residential areas. The diversities indices were higher in the residential area with 1.27, 0.64, and 0.48 respectively for Shannon’s Index, Simpson’s Index, and Equitability Index. Aedes aegypti accounted for 78.42% of the mosquitos collected in activity area and 49.47% of those collected in the residential area with an exophilic respective of 88.32% and 75.21%. Conclusion: Aedes aegypti abundance at the Seaport of San Pedro constitutes a permanent health threat that requires appropriate control and surveillance actions.