author(s)
AA Amaechi, BEB Nwoke, JI Iwunze, CA Ikpeama, MN Ezike, MO Nwachukwu, G Ugagu and J Egejuru

abstract
Malaria and Lymphatic filariasis (LF) are African’s most important vector-borne diseases transmitted by mosquitoes. Attractiveness of pregnant women and Alcohol drinkers was investigated in sentinel sites in Ebonyi State, Nigeria from March to May, 2017. Two cohorts were used; pregnant women and non-pregnant women households, Alcohol drinkers and non alcohol drinkers households. Mosquitoes were caught indoors once a week by Mechanical Aspirator (MA) and Pyrethrum knock down (PKD) techniques and identified using standard morphological keys. Attractiveness was determined by estimating the number of mosquitoes caught and number of blood fed collected and assessed for parity and physiological status. Of the 331 engorged mosquitoes, cohorts for pregnant women (70.78%) and Alcohol drinkers (68.49%) had more mosquitoes than cohorts for non-pregnant women (29.22%) and non alcohol drinkers (30.51%). Overall parity rates of the mosquitoes were 39.6% versus 20.13% for cohorts of pregnant women and non-pregnant women and 51.98% versus 20.90% for cohorts of alcohol drinkers and non alcohol drinkers respectively. Pregnant women and Alcohol drinkers attracted significantly more Anopheles (the main malaria and LF vectors in the area) than non-pregnant women and non alcohol drinkers (89.91% versus 22.02%, 83.74% versus 26.83%). However, the cohorts attracted similar proportions of culicine mosquitoes (24.44% versus 46.67% and 47.62% versus 52.38%). Pregnant women who consume alcohol could be at higher risk than non-pregnant women 79.09% versus 29.9%. This study supports the view that some individuals within a community are at risk from mosquito-borne diseases than others and need to be integrated into public health policies for control.