European Journal of Dentistry and Medicine1996-3378xxxx-xxxxAcademic Journals Inc.10.3923/ejdm.2012.56.63Anopheles Species of Rural Communities in Abia State, Nigeria]]>KaluK.M. ObasiN.A. NdukaF.O. OkonkwoE.I. 3201243Transmission of human malaria requires contacts between vectors of malaria, Anopheles spp. and human hosts. In the present study, the abundance of nocturnal and endophagous anthropophagous anophelines species in Umuchieze and Uturu, rural communities in Abia State, Southeast, Nigeria, was investigated using all-night human-bait indoor insecticide spray sheet catches method for two consecutive years. Catch was made once a week in each community. A total of 500 adult mosquitoes (all female anophelines) was captured, 170 (34.00%) in Umuchieze Community and 330 (66.00%) in Uturu. Three Anopheles species: Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles funestus and Anopheles moucheti were found in the studied communities except in Umuchieze Community where Anopheles moucheti was never caught. Anopheles gambiae was dominant in both study communities with the species relative abundance of 55.29 and 51.82% recorded in Umuchieze and Uturu Communities, respectively. The relative abundances of various prevalent Anopheles species were higher during rainy season than the dry season. This periodic occurrence of the important malaria vectors explains periodicity of malaria epidemiology in the study communities. The high abundance rates of nocturnal and endophagous anthropophagous anophelines recorded in the two communities predispose inhabitants of the areas to incessant contact with the human malaria vectors resulting in the study areas being malaria endemic.]]>Abdoon, A.M.M.O. and A.M. Alshahrani,20039240247Aigbodion, F.I. and M.A. Anyiwe,20052293107Anosike, J.C., C.O.E. Onwuliri, B.E.B. Nwoke and I.N.S. Dozie,2003Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles funestus in the transmission of Wuchereria bancrofti.]]>24143148Coetzee, M., M. Craig and D. le Sueur,2000Anopheles gambiae Complex.]]>167477Cohuet, A., F. Simard, C.S. Wondji, C. Antonio-Nkondjio, P. Awono-Ambe and D. Fontenille,2004Anopheles funestus (Diptera: Culicidae) in a village of savannah-forest transition area in Cameroon.]]>41901905Diallo, D.A., A. Habluetzel, N. Cuzin-Ouattara, I. Nebie, E. Sanogo, S.N. Cousens and F. Esposito,199941377381Fontenille, D. and L. Lochouarn,199941267271Gadzama, N.M.,1983199104Gillet, J.D.,1972Pages: 106Pages: 106Guillet, P.,200123S22S24Horsfall, W.R.,1962Pages: 467Pages: 467Igbozurike, M.,1986Pages: 248Pages: 248Jambou, R., L. Ranaivo, L. Raharimalala, J. Randrianaivo and F. Rakotomanana et al.,2001951418Kalu, K., F.O. Nduka and P.E. Etusim,2007Anopheles species in Konduga Lake Area of Borno State, Nigeria.]]>4673676Kalu, K.M., N.A. Obasi, F.O. Nduka, V.O. Nwaugo and I.A. Onuabuchi,2012Anopheles species in relation to human malaria transmission in an urban and a rural community of Abia State, Nigeria.]]>2012Le Menach, A., F.E. McKenzie, A. Flahault and D.L. Smith,200542323Service, M.W.,199734579588Service, M.W.,1993pp: 32-67pp: 32-67Sharma, V.P.,199941349353Shililu, J.I., C.M. Mbogo, J.T. Gunter, C. Swalm and J.L. Regens et al., 2003Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles funestus and malaria transmission in Suba district, Western Kenya.]]>23187196Wanji, S., T. Tanke, S.N. Atanga, C. Ajonina, T. Nicholas and D. Fontenille,2003Anopheles species of the Mount Cameroon: Biting habits, feeding behaviour and entomological inoculation rates.]]>8643649