Water characteristics of the breeding sites and hatching rate of the eggs of Aedes sp.

Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia

^* Corresponding budiyonofkm@lecturer.undip.ac.id

Abstract

Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is a disease transmitted by the Aedes sp. mosquito and the characteristics of the water in which the mosquito breeds are important factors in its life cycle. The present study aimed to analyze the relationship between the water characteristics and hatching rates of Aedes sp. eggs. The study employed an analytical observational method with a prospective cohort approach, using 91 ovitraps that were placed by proportional random sampling in various community units. The study's duration was seven days, during which observations were conducted to measure pH, temperature, and TDS at three stages: prior to oviposition, following ovi-position, and post-egg hatching into first instar larvae. The collected data were then analysed using the chi-squared test and Spearman’s rank correlation. The water characteristics were pH 7.54, temperature 28.53℃, and TDS 349.79 ppm. The highest percentage of egg hatching occurred on days 1 (38%), 2 (33.8%), and 3 (22.6%), with a decline in hatching rates on subsequent days. A significant relationship was identified between pH (p = 0.016), water temperature (p = 0.006), and egg hatching rate. However, the relationship between TDS and the aforementioned variables was found to be non-significant (p = 0.302). These results indicate that variations in water pH and temperature can influence the rate of hatching of Aedes sp. eggs in Cipare Village, Serang City.