Seasonal Ecology and Transmission Competence of Culex neavei for West Nile Virus in the Lake Alau Wetlands, Borno State, North East Nigeria

West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus circulating in sub-Saharan Africa where it causes encephalitis in humans and horses, yet its transmission dynamics in Nigeria's northeastern wetlands are undocumented. Lake Alau in Borno State and its associated seasonal wetlands support large populations of Culex mosquitoes of potential epidemiological significance. This study investigates the seasonal ecology and vector competence of Culex neavei for West Nile virus in the Lake Alau wetland system. Monthly adult mosquito collections using CO2-baited CDC light traps and larval sampling at 12 sites around Lake Alau will be conducted over 24 months. Culex species will be identified morphologically and by PCR. Pooled Culex samples will be screened for flavivirus RNA by real-time RT-PCR. Transmission competence of locally collected Cx. neavei will be assessed through oral infection experiments with a regional West Nile virus isolate, measuring infection, dissemination, and salivary transmission rates at days 10 and 14 post-infection. Ecological abundance modeling will characterize habitat determinants of peak population density. This research contributes to a critical knowledge gap regarding arbovirus vector ecology in the Lake Chad basin region. Keywords: Culex neavei, West Nile virus, vector competence, Lake Alau, Borno State