Biotic and abiotic factors in anopheles gambiae breeding habitats as a potential tool to fight Malaria in central Uganda

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Date
2019Author
Odong, Robinson
Onen, Hudson
Chemurot, Moses
Kayondo, Jonathan
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Show full item recordAbstract
There is a high risk of malaria infection in Uganda due to availability of conducive conditions in
breeding habitats of An. gambiae s.l., the vectors for Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria.
Aim: The aim of this study was to determine whether the abundance and distribution of macro-invertebrates and
An. gambiae s.l. are influenced by water physico-chemical parameters.
Methods: In this study, habitats were classified as ponds, streams, temporary pools and roadside ditches. From
these habitats, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, temperature and pH were measured in-situ in the
morning and afternoon between October and December 2017. Macro-invertebrates and An. gambiae s.l. larvae
were sampled, preserved, morphologically identified and counted.
Results: There was a strong association between An. gambiae s.l. with land use, habitat types and water
physico-chemical parameters. Baetidae, Coenagrionidae, Aeshnidae, Nepidae, Lymnaeidae and Hirudidae were
highly abundant in streams. Notonectidae, Haliplidae and Elmidae were dominant in ponds while Dytiscidae,
Culicidae, Chironomidae, Sphaerolichidae and An. gambiae s.l. were abundant in temporary pools. Carabidae
were abundant in roadside ditches.
Conclusion: Water physico-chemical parameters, land use and habitat types influenced the abundance and
distribution of macro-invertebrates including An. gambiae s.l. We recommend that studies should be conducted
to establish the mechanisms through which these factors influence abundance and distribution of An. gambiae
s.l. and other macro-invertebrates.
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- Medical and Health Sciences [2894]