Influence of climatic and land use factors on post-monsoon distribution of Aedes mosquito vectors in Udupi taluk

Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) account for 17% of the global disease burden, causing approximately 700,000 deaths annually. Among these, dengue is a major public health concern in tropical and subtropical regions, transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in Udupi taluk, Karnataka, India, to examine the influence of climatic factors and land use/land cover (LULC) on Aedes distribution during the post-monsoon season. With a 5 km × 5 km grid sampling design, 28 locations (560 households) were surveyed between October and December 2023. Aedes larvae were detected in 71.42% of houses. Of the 425 mosquitoes identified, A. albopictus (57.64%) were more abundant than A. aegypti (23.52%), with the rest belonging to Culex and Armigeres. Climatic factors such as temperature and humidity showed positive correlation with A.albopictus, while A.aegypti showed weak negative correlation. GIS analysis highlighted the Aedes high-density breeding areas, and larval indices maps were developed. Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial (ZINB) regression identified HI as a significant predictor of A. aegypti abundance. LULC mapping indicated Aedes breeding activity concentrated in fragmented urban areas and croplands. The study highlights the importance of integrating climatic and spatial data for targeted vector control.