Abstract:
Vector-borne diseases are increasingly becoming a major health problem among
communities living along the major rivers of Africa. Although larger water bodies such as
lakes and dams have been extensively researched, rivers and their tributaries have largely
been ignored. This study sought to establish the spatial distribution of mosquito species
during the dry season and further characterize their habitats along the Mara River and its
tributaries. In this cross-sectional survey, mosquito larvae were sampled along the Mara
River, its two perennial tributaries (Amala and Nyangores), drying streams, and adjacent
aquatic habitats (eg swamps, puddles that receive direct sunlight [open sunlit puddles], rock
pools, hippo and livestock hoof prints, and vegetated pools). Each habitat was dipped 20
times using a standard dipper. Distance between breeding sites and human habitation …