MOLECULAR DETECTION OF WEST NILE VIRUS IN MOSQUITOES AND ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICES REGARDING MOSQUITO CONTROL AND PREVENTION IN SELECTED RIFT VALLEY AREAS, ETHIOPIA
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Date
2019-06
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Abstract
Mosquito borne diseases poses an immense veterinary and public health concern and are
major impediments in the path of socio-economic development. West Nile Virus is a
widely distributed mosquito-borne Flavivirus. Environmental management strategies that
reduce or eliminate mosquito breeding sites combined with improved personal prevention
strategies can help to significantly reduce transmission of the virus. The main aim of this
study was to detect West Nile Virus in mosquitoes collected from different areas in the
Rift Valley of Ethiopia and assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of the
community living in the study areas. A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect
mosquitoes and questionnaire survey in the selected areas. A total of 2,322 mosquitoes
were collected, identified to genus level and pooled into 38 groups of approximately 20
to 25 mosquitoes based on their genera, sex and collection site. The mosquito pools were
homogenized and the RNA was extracted. WNV genome detection in mosquito pools
was conducted using one-step RT-PCR followed by gel electrophoresis visualization.
Pretested questionnaire was used for interviewing randomly selected households in which
a total of 288 respondents were participated. Descriptive statistical data analysis tests
were used. None of the mosquito pools was positive for WNV genome. Majority (94.4%)
of the participants know mosquitoes can transmit diseases from humans to humans while
only 10.1% know mosquitoes can transmit diseases between human and animals. All of
the participants consider mosquitoes as a threat to the community and 93.8% believed
controlling mosquitoes can help in prevention of mosquito borne diseases. Ninety three
point one percent of the participants were practicing mosquito control measures in the
past times. The negative result for WNV genome detection doesn’t mean a total absence
of the virus in the study area, perhaps due to seasonal, feeding and mosquito abundance
factors. The awareness, attitude and practices of the community regarding mosquito
control and prevention is satisfactory though there are some gaps.
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Keywords
Mosquito, West Nile Virus, RT-PCR