ArticleMalaria journal2025
Larvivorous potential of Metriaclima callainos and Cynotilapia afra as biological agents for mosquito control.
Article in Malaria journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundMalaria remains a major health challenge in sub-Saharan African countries, including Malawi. Insecticides resistance is a significant challenge to malaria vector control. In Malawi, larval source management (LSM) is promoted as a supplementary malaria vector control strategy. However, biological control using larvivorous fish, which has proven effective in other countries, is not practiced due to lack of information to guide the application of native larvivorous fish in biological mosquito control. This study was conducted to assess the larvivorous potential of native Metriaclima callainos and Cynotilapia afra on susceptible Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto (Kisumu strain) mosquito larvae under laboratory conditions.
methodsA 24 h bioassay was conducted to assess predation rate on fourth instar larvae of An. gambiae. Secondly, the predation on 4th instar larvae was assessed in the absence and presence of alternative fish feeds (zooplanktons and fish flakes). Thereafter, fish predation on the second, fourth larval instars and pupae stage of An. gambiae was assessed.
resultsIn a 24-h bioassay, M. callainos consumed 883.4 ± 66.7 An. gambiae larvae while C. afra consumed 247.5 ± 25.2 An. gambiae larvae. The presence of alternative fish feeds had no significant effect on larvae consumption by the two fish species. Metriaclima callainos preferred fourth-instar larvae and pupae over second-instar larvae, while C. afra preyed equally on all three developmental stages of mosquitoes.
conclusionUnder laboratory conditions, the two Lake Malawi cichlids, M. callainos and C. afra demonstrated high larvivorous potential. This study provides first documentation and knowledge on the presence of potential larvivorous fish in Lake Malawi and further studies should focus on assessing their predation in the natural environment.
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