Changes in Water Quality Threaten the Spread of Infectious Diseases; Filaria Vector Culex pipiens Dealing with Water Contaminants.

In Egypt, the most common mosquito-borne diseases transmitted to human beings are exacerbated by water contamination caused by the unregulated discharge of chemical contaminants. Population growth and urbanization have expanded possible habitats, resulting in an increase in the abundance of Culex pipiens. In the present study, the fifth generation was reared at 27± 2°C, 75% RH, and a photoperiod of 12:12h (light-dark) in clean, moderately, and contaminated water to determine the impact of water contaminants on the population dynamics of Culex pipiens. Our results showed that C. pipiens had a finite growth rate (λ) of 1.3116 d-1, an intrinsic growth rate (r) of 0.3145 d-1, a net reproductive rate (R0) of 100.06 offspring, and a mean fertility (F) of 262.53 eggs in highly contaminated water. These values are much higher than those found in the offspring of water with minimal contamination. While there was no significant difference in male adult lifetime across treatments, female adult lifespan was significantly reduced in clean water (9.91 days) and moderately polluted (10.54 days) water compared to contaminated water (13.63 days). In moderately and clean water, the parameters were as follows: λ = 1. 2311 d1, 198.02 eggs, r = 0.2105 d-1 and R0 = 68.45 offspring, λ = 1.169 d-1, 186.92 eggs, r = 0. 2047 d-1, and R0 = 64.09 offspring, respectively. This research suggests that Culex pipiens may undergo the degree of adaptation to severely contaminated water, which might do enough to increase the diversity of the mosquito-borne disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]