Life table parameters of Anopheles stephensi intermediate biotype in the water of four regions of Iran

Malaria is a disease transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. The life table is considered the most important basis for both quantitative and qualitative ecological studies, helping to understand the survival and fertility rates of insect populations. To evaluate important parameters of the life table such as life expectancy, finite population growth rate, net reproductive rate, and average generation time, the biotype of Anopheles stephensi intermediate was reared under laboratory conditions. Factors such as mosquito mortality rates, the number of eggs laid, the number of eggs hatched, and the male-to-female mosquito ratio were counted and analyzed. The goal of this study was to investigate important life table parameters for biotypes of Anopheles stephensi intermediate, in various water sources in Iran, including the semi-deep wells of Sistan and Baluchestan, the Karkheh River in Khuzestan, the Aliabad waterfall in Golestan, and the Minab River in Hormozgan, all at the National Insectarium of Iran, Pasteur Institute. The results showed significant differences between intrinsic rate of population increase (r), finite population growth rate (λ), net reproductive rate (R۰), and the average generation time (T). In this biotype of mosquitoes, those feeding from the southern and eastern regions had the highest r, λ, R۰, and T values. The adaptation to water from the southern regions was higher than to water from other parts of Iran. It can be concluded that water quality and adaptation to water are important factors in the growth and population of Anopheles mosquitoes.

کلیدواژه ها:

An. stephensi intermediate ، Life table ، water quality