Habitat suitability modeling of mosquito species in Faiyum Governorate, Egypt, using GIS

Background

The life cycle and geographic range of mosquitoes are profoundly influenced by weather conditions. In Faiyum Governorate, Egypt, researchers looked at over 42 different mosquito breeding areas in the wild. Culex pipiens, Culex antennatus, Culex perexiguus, Culex theileri, Anopheles multicolor, Anopheles sergentii, Ochlerotatus caspius, Culiseta longiareolata, and Uranotaenia unguiculata, were all represented among the collected mosquito larvae. Using Maxent, we identified the most important bioclimatic factors affecting habitat appropriateness for each species. In order to determine the link between a species’ habitat appropriateness and bioclimatic factors, the computer builds response curves for each bioclimatic factor. All species risk maps, species richness maps, and individual species maps were generated with a Software that build interactive web maps (ArcGIS 10.3).

Results

Each mosquito species’ range was impacted by four bioclimatic factors. The most influential factors were those linked to temperature and precipitation. Culex antennatus, Culex perexiguus, Culex pipiens, and Ochlerotatus caspius responded best to temperature-related factors. Precipitation of wettest month (bio 13) was effective in four species (Anopheles multicolor, Culex antennatus, Culex perexiguus, and Culex pipiens).

Conclusion

Areas in the north and west of El-Fayoum district (Zawyat El-Karadsah, Beni-Saleh, and Monshat Abd-Allah), in Tamiya in Kafr Mahfouz, in the south of Abshway, especially in Tobhar, in the north of Atssa, in the south and center of Sinnuris have been identified as high-risk areas and more susceptible to mosquito-borne diseases.