Ovitrap surveillance in Sarawak, Malaysia: A comprehensive study

Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre (TIDREC), University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia This study reports the distribution and abundance of Aedes by using ovitrap surveillance and aims to provide the most recent information on dengue vector distribution in Sarawak State, Malaysia. The ovitrap index (OI) of Aedes larvae was found highest in urban residential area (mean OI = 90.97%), followed by suburban (69.70%), rural (65.45%) and remote (52.63%) residential areas. The mean number of Aedes larvae per ovitrap was also found to be significantly highest in urban residential area (26.47 ± 1.62) compared to other type of residential areas (p0.05). Interestingly, no Aedes aegypti was observed in this study, but two species of Armigeres were found co-breeding with Ae. albopictus. This study reveals that Ae. albopictus is the dominant dengue vector in Sarawak State and all the surveyed residential areas are in risk of dengue transmission with OI10.