Geographical distribution and relative abundance of culicine mosquitoes in relation to transmission of lymphatic filariasis in El Menoufia Governorate, Egypt.

Culicine mosquito were surveyed in El Menoufia Governorate (October to November 2008 and April to May 2009) in villages representing eight districts. Six species were reported: Culex (Culex) pipiens Linnaeus, Cx. (Cx) perexiguus Theobald, Cx. (Cx.) antennatus (Becker), Aedes (Ochlerotatus) caspius (Pallas), Aedes (Ochlerotatus) detritus (Haliday) and Culiseta (Allotheobaldia) longiareolata (Macquart). Cx. pipiens, the main filariasis vector was the commonest or predominating species (ca. 47% adults & 92% larvae, P < 0.01). For the common species, the following were investigated: 1- temperature and pH of the breeding habitats and their relation to the larval density and 2- relation of adult indoor density with indoor- and outdoor- temperature and RH. Besides, parasitologically, Wuchereria bancrofti cases (33/631 blood samples, 5.23%) were detected in three districts (range = 1.96-14.12% infection). The cases were associated with the abundance of Cx. pipiens adults (ca. 45- 62% of the collected adults).