Akwashiki Ombugadu

Study’s Excerpt Full Abstract Numerous mosquito species are capable of carrying various tropical diseases. This study ascertained the composition of mosquitoes in Nasarawa Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, Central Nigeria. Adult mosquitoes were collected between 0600 and 0900 hours in the morning using a battery-operated Prokopack aspirator. The mosquitoes were then placed in a petri dish with proper labelling and taken to a laboratory for identification and dissection. Using a dissecting microscope and identification key, mosquitoes were sorted and morphologically classified according to their morphological features. The mosquito midgut was dissected to check for sporozoites infectivity. The man-biting rate (MBR) and indoor resting density (IRD) were computed. A total of 314 adult mosquitoes, spanning four species and belonging to the Anopheline and Culicine mosquito groups, were found to be resting indoors with An. gambiae representing 39.2% of the total composition. A significant difference in mosquito abundance (χ2= 58.866, df = 3, P=0.001) was observed between the four species that were reported. There is no discernible variation in the mosquito composition in the research region (χ2= 4.861, df = 2, P = 0.088). A statistically significant variance in sex was noted (χ2=285.235, df = 2, P = 0.000). The biting rate was recorded at 2.6 bites per person per night, and an indoor resting density of 5.23 mosquitoes per room per night was recorded. There was a noteworthy distinction in the abdomen condition of the mosquitoes (χ2 = 45.564, df = 3, p < 0.001). Mosquito species abundance in October was 200 (63.7%), compared to 114 (36.3) in September. Nonetheless, a noteworthy distinction was observed in the abundance of mosquito species throughout the research months (χ2= 7.5076, df = 1, P-value = 0.006). Based on the study's findings that provided insight into the species composition of the mosquito population in the study area, it is recommended to remove possible breeding grounds, promote the use of insecticide-treated nets, and prioritize interrupting vector-human contact as a means of halting the spread of malaria parasites.

The continuous need for complimentary, substitutionary, as well as alternative techniques in malaria vectors surveillance cannot be over emphasized. Also, the studies on complementary and or substitutionary sampling techniques in sub-Saharan Africa is lacking to a very large extent. Thus, this study compared the novel prokopack aspirator versus the popular pyrethrum spray catch in relation to the composition and abundance of Anopheles gambiae sensu lato in Nasarawa State, Central Nigeria.

Heavy metals are an integral part of nature and play an important role in the lives of living species at trace levels. These become toxic when in excess in the organisms. Therefore, this study investigated the bioaccumulation of lead (Pb) in some birds and plant species in rapidly degrading mining sites in three selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Nasarawa State, Central Nigeria, from June 2017 to May 2018. Birds were trapped using mist nets.

The paucity of information on malaria vectors in rural areas continues to pose a problem in the public health sector in Nigeria. Thus, the study on mosquitoes composition and malaria transmission in some communities in Doma Local Government Area (LGA) of Nasarawa State, Nigeria was carried out between April and July 2021. Indoor resting mosquitoes were collected using standard pyrethrum spray catch (PSC) from 0600 to 0900 hours. The mosquitoes collected were transferred into a well labelled petri-dish and transported to the laboratory for processing. A total of 1,317 mosquitoes were collected which spread across Iwashi 1,132 (85.9%) and Ruttu 185 (14.0%) communities. The results obtained indicate that the Anopheles mosquitoes had a higher abundance of 1,020 (77.4%) mosquitoes of which females constituted 886 (67.3%) of the population collected while the anopheline males accounted for 134 (10.2%). The abundance of mosquitoes in relation to groups, species and sex respectively varied significantly (p < 0.05). A zero (0.0%) sporozoite rate was recorded from the 654 female Anopheles gambiae s. l. dissected, although oocyst was seen in the alimentary canal of 78 (11.9%) mosquitoes which may be an indicator of possible potential transmission. The results obtained from this study call on all the inhabitants of the two selected communities as well as Doma LGA at large to always clear all potential mosquitoes breeding sites. Also, members of the communities should ensure proper protection against vector-human contact by sleeping under insecticide treated bed nets.

The burden of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) infections in Nigeria is enormous with serious public health significance. This study, therefore, assessed helminthiasis among school-age children and the hygiene conditions of schools in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria between December 2015 and April 2016 from four randomly selected primary schools. Stool samples were collected from 200 primary school pupils including 80 males (40%) and 120 females (60%) between five and 16 years, using clean sample bottles and a standard parasitology examination technique at the central laboratory at the Federal University, Lafia. An overall prevalence of 33.5% (67/200) helminths infections was recorded. A checklist of Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm, Trichuris trichiura, and Strongyloides stercoralis was generated from the pooled data of the four studied schools in which A. lumbricoides occurred highest with 13% (26/200) while S. stercoralis was the least prevalent at 2.50% (5/200). Among the schools sampled, St. James Pilot Science Primary School’s children were the most infected at 44% (22/50). Multiple infections were observed in three of the four schools sampled. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in prevalence rates of different STHs infections in relation to age group and gender across schools. Our findings showed that the hygiene conditions in the studied schools were poor without water, hand washing materials, refuse bins, as well as poor sanitary conditions. This study also identified ova and larvae of STHs parasites in the analyzed soil samples from the studied schools. Most school-age children had knowledge about contamination but few among them washed their hands with water and soap. The obtained result indicated a negative association between the prevalence of STHs and the proportion of pupils that cleaned up with water after defection. We, therefore, advise that hygiene conditions in schools be improved and that the government should prioritize enrolling all primary schools in Nasarawa state for the school health program so as to reduce the burden of STHs among school-age children in the state.

The breeding of mosquitoes takes place in various habitat types. Some breed in natural habitats while others prefer artificial breeding sites where

Green gram is a ‘wonder’ or ‘super’ food with health benefits. It is one of the shortest growth duration grain legumes that are also suitable as catch crops. Leguminous crops generally attract insect pests because of their high nutritive value. Hence, a survey of insects associated with green gram (Vigna radiata L.) treated with insecticide and fungicide was conducted in Kwanpe, a suburb of Langtang in Plateau State, Nigeria from July to September during the 2014 cropping season. Four treatments of dimethoate (an insecticide) were applied (at 0, 300, 500, and 700 g a.i./ha) in four replicates arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design. A total of 40 insect species belonging to 4 orders and 8 families were captured. Species known to be pests in other legume crops encountered were 22. There were few predatory species. There were no statistical differences in pest species populations in treated and untreated green gram plots. It is recommended that there is no need to engage synthetic chemicals in the production of green gram in this locality. Regular insect surveillance is however required as a monitor for pest species populations in order to set economic threshold levels in this Southern Guinea Savanna ecological zone for the highly valued crop.