Investigating the Relationship between the Presence of Domestic Animals and the Frequency of Mosquito Bites in Residential Houses: A Case Study

Abstract

Aim: Diverting the blood‑feeding mosquitoes from humans to domestic animals is an effective strategy known as zoo prophylaxis. In this regard, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between keeping domestic animals and the frequency of mosquito bites in residential houses. Methods: A number of 150 families were involved in this study resided in Varzaneh City, Isfahan province, Iran. Data on the mosquito bites were collected using a checklist. The descriptive statistics and analytical parametric tests such as correlation and analysis of variance were performed using SPSS 22 software. Results: Based on the results, 26 of the participants in this study have reported keeping domestic animals. Moreover, 44.7 of the families reported the movement of nondomestic animals inside their houses. Only 7.7 of families who had domestic animals have reported mosquito bites. The statistical analysis showed a significant (P < 0.01) inverse relationship between keeping domestic animals with mosquito bites. Conclusion: Our findings showed that domestic animals in residential houses could serve as a biological shield diverting blood‑seeking mosquitoes from humans to animals. Therefore, such a simple, environmentally friendly, and efficient strategy could be employed to prevent mosquito‑carrying diseases in the study region. © 2024 International Journal of Environmental Health Engineering.