Vector Competence of Culex quinquefasciatus for Wuchereria bancrofti in Communities of Ogun State

Culex quinquefasciatus is the primary vector of Wuchereria bancrofti, the causative agent of lymphatic filariasis, in urban and peri-urban settings of West Africa. This study assessed the vector competence of C. quinquefasciatus collected from communities in Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria. Adult female mosquitoes were collected using indoor pyrethrum spray catches from three communities with known lymphatic filariasis endemicity. A subsample of 480 mosquitoes was dissected, and thoraxes and heads were examined for infective-stage larvae. Mosquito pools were also tested by PCR for W. bancrofti DNA. An infection rate of 2.9 percent was recorded for thorax-dissection-positive mosquitoes. PCR amplification confirmed W. bancrofti in 3.6 percent of mosquito pools tested. Communities with higher open drain density showed significantly elevated Culex densities and correspondingly higher infection rates. Insecticide resistance to deltamethrin was documented in 63.8 percent of field-collected mosquitoes, complicating vector control planning. The study recommends enhanced vector surveillance and resistance monitoring as integral components of lymphatic filariasis elimination efforts in Ogun State. Keywords: Culex quinquefasciatus, lymphatic filariasis, Wuchereria bancrofti, vector competence, Ogun State.