Preferred breeding habitats of Aedes Aegypti (Diptera- Culicidae) Mosquito and its public health implications in Dares Salaam, Tanzania

The larval habitats of the mosquito Aedes aegypti L (Diptera-Culicidae) were investigated in urban Dar es Salaam, using larval traps (old tyres, vegetations, outdoor water storage containers and flower pots). The study was carried out in the four sampling sites namely, Vingunguti, Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA), Mbagala and Mkuranga (Vikindu). The aim was to assess the influence of habitat changes in urban Dar es Salaam (the capital city of the united republic of Tanzania) on the preferred breeding habitats of Ae. Aegypti mosquitoes and its possible public health implications on the residents of the City. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes bred in all the habitats sampled. Old tyres recorded the highest number of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes followed by water storage containers and vegetation. Flower-pots habitat was the least preferred, with the lowest number of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes.Other mosquito species belonging to five genera were also collected and these were found to live in sympatry with Ae. aegypti larvae. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in species occurrence in the four larval habitats sampled. The availability of the habitats to support the breeding of Ae. aegypti mosquito, which are potential vectors of urban yellow fever, Chikungunya fever, Dengue fever and Rift Valley Fever Viruses implies that theresidents of Dar es Salaam City are at risk of mosquito-borne diseases should an outbreak occur. It is therefore important that, residents of the City are enlightened on environmental factors that contribute to mosquito breeding and that, the Government together with the community institute proper sanitation measures to reduce mosquito breeding habitats.