Evaluation of resting sites of Culex quinquefasciatus and Anopheles gambiae s.l in an urban-rural transect in Jos, Nigeria

Background: The city of Jos, Nigeria, has been expanding with a consequent increase in the contact between humans and wild monkeys inhabiting the surrounding hills. Such a situation could increase the danger of the spread of zoonoses as well as arboviruses. Objective: To determine the relative monthly abundance of Culex quinquefasciatus and Anopheles gambiae s.l in three different habitats. Design: A longitudinal study. Setting: Urban-rural transect in Jos, Nigeria. Results: A total of 853 mosquitoes were collected, comprising of 98.5% Culex quinquefasciatus from all the three habitats and 1.5% Anopheles gambiae s.l only from the house habitat. The house habitat, C, yielded the most numbers of both species of mosquitoes, while the handcatch method significantly exceeded the box shelters in the yield of Culex quinquefasciatus and Anopheles gambiae s.l Conclusion: The indoor resting habit observed by Cx. quinquefasciatus and An. gambiae s.l. makes indoor residual spraying and use of insecticide treated nets suitable for their control.