J. Commun. Dis. 43(3) 2011 : 223-228

* National Institute of Malaria Research (ICMR), Sector-8, Dwarka, New Delhi-110077Correspondence to : Dr. R.K. Singh, National Institute of Malaria Research (ICMR), Sector-8, Dwarka,New Delhi-110077. e-mail: singhriku@yahoo.co.in

Prevalence of Aedes aegypti Linnaeus and Aedes albopictusSkuse in Koderma, Jharkhand

Singh RK, Dhiman RC and Dua VK

Abstract

Entomological survey was carried out in different localities of Koderma

district of Jharkhand with a view to study the prevalence, distribution

and stratification of areas for Aedes mosquito species. A total of 233

houses were covered during house to house larval and adult survey.

Aedes breeding could be detected in 157 houses. In all, a total of 942

domestic water containers were searched, out of which 461 were found

positive. The overall house index(HI) container index(CI) breteau

index(B1) and pupal index(PI) were 67.38%, 48.94%, 197.85% and 79.4%,

respectively. The survey revealed that Aedes aegypti Linnaeus and Aedes

albopictus Skuse are well established in Koderma with most of the areas

showing high adult and larval indices. The preventive strategy needs to

be directed towards minimizing the breeding potential of Aedes and

water management practice by individuals along with implementation

of urban bye-laws as well as IEC activities to contain Aedes breeding in

future.

Key words : Prevalence; Aedes mosquitoes; Koderma; Jharkhand; India

(Received for publication Nov. 2010)

INTRODUCTION

Dengue fever (DF) and dengue haemorrhagic

fever (DHF) are re-emerging fast as a major 1public health problem ; many states of the

country have reported small outbreaks of 2 DF/DHF. The role of Aedes mosquitoes in the

spread of many arboviral infections including

dengue and chikungunya is now well 3-6 documented. Aedes aegypti Linnaeus play a

key role in transmission of dengue in various

states of India as this vector of is widely present in India. Recently, dengue and

3-9chikungunya virus has also been detected in 7 Aedes albopictus Skuse. This vector has been

224 Singh RK et al

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Larval survey:

A door to door Aedes survey was carried out

during from 25th August to 5th September

2010 in Koderma, Dhab, Domchanch,

Hirodih, Gujhandi, Jainagar, Jhumari-tilaiya,

Satgawan and Markacho area in household 12,13premises, as per WHO guidelines. The

larval collections were made in each locality

to find out the Aedes breeding in all the wet

containers present in houses and around. All

kinds of breeding habitats in the study area

like cemented tanks, discarded overhead

tanks, iron drums, junk materials, desert

coolers, glass wares, plastic wares, flower

pots, domestic earthen pots, old plastic tea

cups and discarded tyres etc. were screened

for the presence of immature stages of Aedes

mosquitoes. All the water containers were

searched with the help of flash light and

pipette, while bigger containers were

searched with the help of dipper of 300 ml

capacity (having white background for better

visibility). The type of larval habitats and

their location were recorded. The data on

larval survey were analyzed and calculated in

terms of different indices like container index

(CI), house index(HI), breteau index(B1),

pupal index(PI). The container preferences of

Aedes breeding were assessed by calculation

of breeding preference ratio (BPR) as per the 12procedure of WHO.

Adult collection:

Aedes mosquito collections were carried out to

determine the MHD (man hour density) of 13mosquitoes with the help of aspirators and

flash lights in the morning hours (07-09hrs) in

different localities from discarded tyres,

cemented tanks, indoor domestic articles, etc.

and identified up to species level with the 14help of standard identification keys.

recently reported from rural areas and

spreading in areas which were so far free from 10,11this disease. Aedes albopictus also currently

shows a global presence and recognized as a

major threat to health. In India, re-emergence

of chikungunya has been reported from 7 several states since 2005. Aedes mosquitoes

are widely distributed in tropical and

subtropical regions of the world. Aedes

mosquitoes are prevalent in varying densities

in North, North-East and Central India.

No confirmed dengue case has been

reported from Koderma till today, but

hundreds of clinically suspected cases of

dengue fever are reported every year.

Therefore an entomological Aedes survey was

carried out with an objective to evolve a

targeted source reduction programme and

thus to enhance the effectiveness of the

control strategy.

Koderma, the gateway district of

Jharkhand, also known as the Mica capital of

India, is situated at 397 meters above MSL.

More than 50% of the total mica of the country

produced from here. The district has net

population of 5,40,901 (Census 2001). Rabi,

kharif crops, flowers, fruits and vegetables

whose growth is conducive to laterite soil

(characterized by its acidic nature and not

suitable for traditional agriculture) are

cultivated. Most of the land is “usar” land.

Koderma district is situated between

24015’46" and 24049’18" N longitude and

85026’01" and 85054’16" E latitude.

Topography consists of hills, hillocks,

mounds and plains areas with an average

rainfall of 1090 mm yearly and temperature 0ranging from 16 to 41 C. The findings of the

study are presented in this paper.

Searched Houses Houses Containers Containers Pupae HI CI BI PIareas visited positive searched positive collected (%) (%) (%) (%)

Koderma 57 45 247 156 36 78.95 63.16 273.68 63.16(urban)

Jhumri-tilaiya 93 69 354 203 78 74.19 57.34 218.28 83.87(urban)

Satgawan 41 16 168 44 19 39.02 26.19 187.32 46.34(rural)

Markacho 42 27 173 58 32 64.29 33.53 138.10 96.19(rural)

Total 233 157 942 461 175 67.38 48.94 197.85 79.40

Table 1 : Prevalence indices of Aedes in different localities ofdistrict Koderma (Jharkhand)

225Prevalence of Aedes aegypti Linnaeus and Aedes albopictus Skuse in Koderma, Jharkhand

RESULTS

A total of 233 houses were searched during

house to house larval survey for Aedes

breeding in all kinds of temporary and

permanent water bodies both indoors and

outdoors in residential and commercial areas.

Of 233 houses searched, breeding of Aedes

could be detected in 157 houses. 942 water

containers were searched for Aedes breeding,

out of which 461 were found positive. The

over all house index (HI), container index

(CI), breteau index (BI) and pupal index (PI)

were 67.38%, 48.94%, 197.85% and 79.4%,

respectively (Table 1). Containers, houses,

breteau and pupal indices were found to be 15higher than normally acceptable limits and

Aedes breeding was recorded in all the

localities of study area and found to vary from

locality to locality.

Major breeding sites of Aedes were found

in discarded tyres (47.51%) and junk

materials (12.58%). followed by cemented

tanks(11.28%), plastic drums/tanks/tubs/

containers (10.41%) (Table 2). Domestic

earthen pots (4.34%), flower pots (3.9%),

desert coolers and discarded overhead tanks

(3.47%), old discarded plastic tea cups (1.3%),

and iron containers (0.87%) were also

detected though in less numbers, respectively

(Table 2). In addition, breeding was also

observed in unused wells, tree holes, daubers

and curing tanks during survey in study area.

Distribution of Aedes larvae in different

breeding habitats and breeding preference

ratio (BPR) for different habitats like

discarded tyres(1.48), discarded overhead

tanks(1.48), old discarded plastic tea

cups(1.11), iron drums and daubers(1.02),

cemented tanks(1.00), flower pots(0.87) and

desert coolers(0.86). Other breeding sites

recorded were, discarded plastic tea cups and

flower pots which are play more important

role in amplification of breeding site.

Adult collections of mosquitoes were also

undertaken in the same areas where larval

surveys were carried out and locality wise

average MHD of Aedes mosquitoes were

calculated for each locality ranged from 2.57

and 9.21 and given in Table 3, respectively.

226 Singh RK et al

DISCUSSION

Observations in Koderma showed the

occurrence of Aedes albopictus in hilly,

hillocks, mounds in rural and sub-urban area,

indicating possibilities for future outbreak of

DF/DHF at any time. Koderma (Town) has

irregular piped water supply resulting in

water storage for domestic use. In rural areas

no such piped water supply system exists as

Table 2 : Breeding Preference Ratio (BPR) of Aedes in different breeding habitatsin district Koderma (Jharkhand)

Type of breeding habitats Number of containers Breedingwith water Preference

Ratio

Examined (X %) With Aedes (Y %) BPR (Y/X)larvae

Desert coolers 38 4.03 16 3.47 0.86

Flower pots 42 4.46 18 3.9 0.87

Domestic earthen pots 61 6.48 20 4.34 0.67

Cemented tanks 106 11.25 52 11.28 1.00

Plastic containers/ tubs/ 183 19.43 48 10.41 0.54drums/tanks

Discarded tyres 303 32.17 219 47.51 1.48

Iron drums 8 0.85 4 0.87 1.02

Discarded iron OHTs 22 2.34 16 3.47 1.48

Junk materials/Broken glass wares, 152 16.14 58 12.58 0.78bottles and Broken Plastic wares

Daubers 26 2.76 4 0.87 0.32

Discarded plastic tea cups 11 1.76 6 1.3 1.11

Total 942 461

Name of searched area/ locality searched Average MHD ofAedes mosquitoes

Koderma : (Forest colony, mines hospital colony, civil court colony, 9.21jail colony, domchanch, buria-tola, dhab, and dumaria-tand)

Jhumari-tilaiya : (DVC colony, railway colony, govt. staff and 7.14officer’s colony, hirodih, and main road Koderma)

Satgawan : (Madhopur, motadih, mahitha kheria, basodih, pachamoh, 4.69gujhandi and satgawan bazaar)

Markacho : (Bhagwantidih tola, jumoo villege, jainagar, and 2.57paschim muhalla)

Table 3 : Man hour density of Aedes in Koderma district (Jharkhand)

Prevalence of Aedes aegypti Linnaeus and Aedes albopictus Skuse in Koderma, Jharkhand 227

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors are thankful to the technical staff

of NIMR for their active involvement and

assistance during field survey.

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the areas showing high larval and adult

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Singh RK et al228

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