The Distribution, Relative-Abundance and the Efficiency of traps of Haematophagous flies at Assop Forest, plateau state, Nigeria

Abstract

The distribution, abundance and level of parity of haematophagous flies species as evidence of public health nuisance was studied in Assop forest of Jos Plateau Central, Nigeria, using Nitse and biconical traps and by careful dissection of the flies. Of the 367 flies caught, 133(36.24%) were Glossina palpalis, 84(34.88%) were Stomoxys calcitrans and 150(40.87%) were the non-haematophagous fly of Musca species. The numbers of trapped haematophagous flies were significantly higher 127(34.60%) in the human activity area than 90(24.50%) in the cattle route area [Mann-Whitney U-test, Z= -2.752, p=0.006]. Nitse trap was found to be more efficient in the trapping of haematophagous flies in both human activity area [Mann-Whitney U-test,U=128, Z= -0.840, p=0.424] and cattle route area[Mann-Whitney U-test,U=53, Z= -0.414, p=0.744] than the biconical trap .The high presence of G. palpalis and S. calcitrans carries health implications because they are capable of transmitting Trypanosome the causative agents of trypanosomiasis, nagana, sura, anthrax and tularaemia. The findings are discussed