Throwback Thursday: My research Experience during my Undergraduates studies
My name is Ovey Charles a proud graduate of Bsc Zoology from Nasarawa State University Keffi, class of 2014. Recalling back my days at University one unique thing I cherish was my project work. It’s a work that exposes me to a knowledge which I won’t forget . I did my research work on Anopheles Mosquitoes. The topic was SUSCEPTIBLLITY OF ANOPHLES MOSQUITO TO PYRETHROID INSECTICIDES, (DELTAMETRIN AND LAMDACYHOLTHRIN) IN AKWANG, NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA.
This research work exposes me to deeper knowledge about anopheles mosquitoes. It was aim at determining the susceptibility of anopheles mosquitoes to the above mention insecticides .
The anopheles mosquitoes: Anopheles mosquito is one specie of mosquitoes. They are insects which are vectors or carriers of microorganism. This microorganism are parasitic in nature and the cause of disease called malaria. Of the anopheles mosquito, the females are the ones responsible for the transmission of the parasite.
(Male and female mosquitoe. Spot the difference)
https://share.google/images/8xQABRUvFaJVPJO1s
All insects including mosquitoes generally feeds on nectar however the females needs blood to hatch their eggs. While sucking the blood of a host to hatch their eggs in the process, they transmit the parasite into a healthy person.
(Viewing the features of mosquitoes)
Mosquitoes breeding. Mosquito can breed in a variety of water except for marine water due to its high salt content. They breed in stagnant water within our environment. They also breeds in containers that are used to store water for drinking or washing in our holes .their reproduction has four distinct stages in their life cycle: The eggs - larva- pupa environment. The females mosquitoes lays eggs up to hundred at a time on the surface of the water.
(Mosquitoe life cycle)
https://share.google/images/8t2YvXQQJWhpuxeQQ
My sample collection: My study was conducted in Akwanga Town Nasarawa state, Nigeria. I collected sample by moving round the town in search of stagnant water containing the larva stage of mosquito The larva stage is collects by scooping them using a kitchen spoon which is then empty into a transparent bowls. The collected larva was then transported to insect laboratory in the university.
(Me collecting mosquitoe larva, 2012)
After a day or two the adults emerges and are been harvested for susceptibility test. For the susceptibility test it was carried out using World Health standard organization procedures to test the kits for adult mosquitoes. Impregnated papers were used which contains concentration of deltamethrin and lamdcaholothrin.
(Me harvesting adult mosquitoes)
The tests were carried out using two to three day old sugar fed female mosquitoes. Four replicate of 20 female mosquitoes were exposed to insecticide impregnated test papers in the test tube for one hour. the mosquitoes were viewed 10 minutes over one hour exposure.
After the exposure of mosquitoes they were then transferred to a recovery tube and provided with 10% sugar solution. the final mortality were recorded with four hours post exposure and the susceptibility status of the population was recorded. This research has exposed me to knowledge about mosquitoes and malaria. Shockingly the some of this mosquitoes only fail down but later revive showing their resistance while others died and never revive showing their susceptibility.
I am Ovey Charles and Thanks for reading