SPECIES COMPOSITION AND BREEDING HABITATS OF BLOOD-SUCKING MOSQUITOES DURING THE WEST NILE OUTBREAK IN KYIV AND ITS ENVIRONS IN 2024

Background. in connection with the outbreak of West Nile virus (WNV) in the summer and autumn of 2024. Mosquitoes are the key biological vectors of the arbovirus, ensuring its circulation among birds and causing human infection. Studying the species composition of mosquitoes in Kyiv and the region is of particular relevance Purpose. To study the species composition of mosquitoes potentially involved in the circulation of WNV in Kyiv and its environs at the end of the warm season, as well as to identify and assess water bodies suitable for their breeding in particular in locations with reported cases of WNV in 2024, based on a field cross-sectional study. Methods. The material was collected from 10 to 12 September 2024 in Kyiv and the region. Larvae were collected from water bodies during the day with a net and pipette, adults - using an electromechanical LED trap with dry ice. Samples were fixed in 70% ethanol and identified by morphological characters. Confidence intervals for the total proportion of the species were statistically calculated. Results and discussion. During the research, suitable for mosquito breeding water bodies were identified and described. We identified 6 species from 4 genera of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) present in the territory: Aedes vexans, Anopheles hyrcanus, Anopheles maculipennis s.l., Culex modestus, Culex pipiens and Uranotaenia unguiculata. The presence of the thermophilic An. hyrcanus in the biotopes of this region was found for the first time. The most common species was C. pipiens, with a general share in September 2024 ranging from 36.6% to 48.0%. The general share of the species An. maculipennis s.l. ranged from 22.5% to 32.7%. Whereas, the general share of Ur. unguiculata species is in the range of 13.7%–22.5%. Other species have a low representation. Conclusions. The studies made it possible to determine the species composition of blood-sucking mosquitoes in Kyiv and its environs, which are potentially involved in the circulation of WNV in September 2024, as well as to identify the water bodies used by mosquitoes for mass breeding. Of particular importance is the most widespread ornithophilic C. pipiens, which is competent to transmit WNV. The data obtained are an important operational step in the development of preventive measures and improvement of epidemiological safety.