Hindawi International Journal of Zoology Volume 2020, Article ID 5429472, 7 pages https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/5429472

Research Article Study of Abiotic and Biotic Parameters Affecting the Abundance of Larvae (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Region of Fez ()

Touria Filali Mouatassem,1 Abdelhakim El Ouali Lalami ,1,2 Chafika Faraj,3 Noureddine Rais,4 and Raja Guemmouh1

1Laboratory of Biotechnology and Preservation of Natural Resources, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, Fez 30000, Morocco 2Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques of Fez, Regional Health Directorate, El Ghassani Hospital, Fez 30000, Morocco 3Laboratory of Medical Entomology, National Hygiene Institute, Rabat 11400, Morocco 4Laboratory of Computer Science, Modelling and Systems, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Faculty of Sciences Dhar Mahraz, Fez 30000, Morocco

Correspondence should be addressed to Abdelhakim El Ouali Lalami; [email protected]

Received 25 March 2020; Revised 24 June 2020; Accepted 6 July 2020; Published 27 July 2020

Academic Editor: Joao Pedro Barreiros

Copyright © 2020 Touria Filali Mouatassem et al. ,is is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Mosquitoes cause significant human health issues. However, very few studies have attempted to examine the question of how abiotic and biotic factors affect the abundance of Culicidae in the larval habitat. ,e objective of this study was to analyze the influence of biotic and abiotic factors on the increase of the most common mosquito species in the Fez region (Central Morocco). Larvae mosquitoes were sampled by standard dipping technique in four different types of macrohabitats, between November 2015 and November 2016. Each mosquito specimen was morphologically identified by the Moroccan Culicidae key and the Brunhes key. ,e analysis was done using R analysis software. We collected a total of 772 mosquito larvae belonging to nine different species, five of which are considered of medical interest. Culex pipiens (Linnaeus, 1758), known as the major vector in the transmission of West Nile virus fever (WNV), was the most common species of all mosquito larvae collected. ,e results of Poisson regression analysis showed that factors such as the presence of green filamentous algae, vegetation cover, and debris were found to be positively significant in the distribution of the genus Culex. However, there was insufficient evidence to determine the parameters that are capable of estimating the abundance of Anopheles. ,e findings have also estimated that biotic and abiotic factors can lead to significant variation in the abundance of Culex perexiguus (,eobald, 1903), Culex theileri (,eobald, 1903), and Culex pipiens (Linnaeus, 1758). Identifying the priority parameters governing the proliferation of mosquitoes in the region of Fez can be one of the key elements for better vector control.

1. Introduction turbidity, algal cover and stability of the habitat [3]; these factors can lead to determining the density, size and vector Mosquitoes infect humans and other vertebrates. ,eir competence [3]. Surveying biotic and abiotic factors for distribution is to a large extent influenced by climatic various mosquito fauna make it easier to monitor the po- conditions and species habits across the globe [1]. Inter- tential modifications of larval habitats affected by rains, actions between biotic and abiotic factors can conduct to global climate change, and man-made activities [4–6]. significant variation in the reproductive landscape of In Morocco, many species of Culicidae family have been [2]. ,ey differ in their preference for the type, size, reported as important vectors of infec