Composition, habitat preference and seasonal variation of malaria vector larval and pupa stage in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria

Background The study of habitat preference and identification of malaria vector is one of the important steps in malaria control. Knowledge of local Anopheles mosquitoes capable of transmitting malaria parasites has contributed largely to the reduction in the menace caused by malaria infection. This present study examined the habitat nature and identified the species of Anopheles mosquitoes involved in malaria parasites transmission in the study area. Monthly collection and identification of the fourth larval stage was carried out from October 2018 to September 2019. Result The prevalence of An. gambiae complex and An. funestus larvae was 95.86 and 4.15%, respectively. The highest (14.17%) and the least (4.25%) number of larvae were collected in the month of November and May, respectively. Out of the total number of Anopheles mosquito larvae collected during the wet season, 69.77% of the larvae was collected from the clean habitat, while 30.23% was collected from the dirty habitats. During the dry season, the larvae dwell more in dirty aquatic habitat, with 64.74% of the larvae collected from the dirty habitats, while 35.27% was recorded from clean habitats. Statistically, there was no significant difference in the electrical conductivity when comparing both seasons ( P = 0.19; X 2 = 53.14). The average recorded electrical conductivity in dry and wet seasons were 350.76 µS/cm and 178.91 µS/cm, respectively. The pH recorded in dry and wet seasons were 6.78 and 7.04, respectively. There was no significant difference in the pH when both seasons were compared ( P = 0.13; X 2 = 54.89). The total dissolve solid where not significant different ( P = 0.58; X 2 = 13.35) when both seasons were compared. The temperature ( P = 0.04; X 2 = 43.54) and dissolve oxygen ( P = 0.00; X 2 = 30.09) were significantly different comparing dry and wet seasons in all the habitats where the immature stages of Anopheles mosquitoes were collected. Conclusion The study revealed major vector of malaria parasite in the study location, also the pattern of their breeding during dry and rainy season which is influenced by some selected ecological factors.