Vol. 12, Issue 6, Part B (2025)

Dengue has emerged as a major public health concern in Odisha, with over a thousand cases reported annually and a rising incidence in recent years. The principal vectors of dengue and chikungunya in the region are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Kesinga, a semi-urban town in the Kalahandi district, holds epidemiological importance due to its major railway station and extensive transportation network, which facilitates human movement and potential vector dispersal. Despite this, no published research has previously documented Aedes breeding habitats in Kesinga. The present study constitutes the first baseline survey of Aedes breeding sites in this area, aiming to assess larval habitat preferences and behavioural ecology to support future vector control and disease risk prediction strategies.

Sampling was conducted bimonthly, during the first and last weeks of each month. Indoor sampling targeted five habitat types: earthen pots, cement tanks, plastic containers, flower pots, and plastic buckets. Outdoor collections included nine habitat types: earthen pots, cement tanks, tree holes, coconut shells, metal drums, plant pots, plastic containers, discarded tyres, and plant axils. A total of 1,649 potential breeding habitats were surveyed, comprising 557 indoor and 1,092 outdoor sites, of which 734 were positive for Aedes larvae. The Breeding Preference Ratio (BPR) revealed plastic containers as the most preferred breeding site both indoors (1.57) and outdoors (1.25). Among outdoor habitats, earthen pots exhibited an identical BPR (1.25), followed by discarded tyres (0.74) and tree holes (0.69). Metal drums showed no larval positivity. Indoors, plastic containers were followed by earthen pots (0.85), cement tanks (0.78), and plastic buckets (0.62). The Container Index (CI) varied seasonally, with the highest indoor CI in August (12.93) and lower outdoor CI values throughout, peaking at 0.105 in August.