Mosquito larval productivity in rice-fields infested with Azolla in Mvomero District, Tanzania
| dc.contributor.author | Mwingira, V.S | |
| dc.contributor.author | Mayala, Benjamin K | |
| dc.contributor.author | Senkoro, Kesheni P | |
| dc.contributor.author | Rumisha, Suzan F | |
| dc.contributor.author | Shayo, E.H | |
| dc.contributor.author | Mlozi, Malongo R.S | |
| dc.contributor.author | Mboera, Leonard E. G | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2018-05-02T06:50:20Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2018-05-02T06:50:20Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2009 | |
| dc.description | Research article | en_US |
| dc.description.abstract | Azolla (Salviniales: Azollaceae) is known to reduce oviposition and adult emergence of a number of mosquito species. Several species of Azolla are reportedly indigenous to Tanzania. However, the potential of Azolla as a biocontrol agent against malaria mosquitoes has not been evaluated in the country. This crosssectional study was carried out to assess mosquito larval productivity in irrigated rice-fields infested with Azolla in Mvomero District, Tanzania. A systematic larval sampling covering all open water bodies along designed transect was carried in rice-fields. Larval density was estimated by dipping water bodies with or without Azolla. The degree of Azolla coverage was categorized as 0%, <50%, 50%, and >80%. Larvae densities were categorised as low (<50/m2), medium (50-500/m2) and high (≥500/m2) productivity. A total of 120 water bodies were surveyed and 105 (87.5%) had Azolla microphyla and A. pinnata at varying degrees of coverage. Of the total 105 water bodies with Azolla, 80 (76.2%) had a green Azolla mat, and 25 (23.8%) a brown Azolla mat. Eightyeight (73.3%) of the sites were infested with anophelines and 109 (90.8%) with culicine larvae. Seventy percent of all water bodies contained anophelines and culicines in sympatric breeding, while 20.8% and 3.3% had only culicines and anophelines, respectively. The majority (82%) of mosquito breeding sites were found in area with Azolla substrate. Mosquito larva productivity was low in sites with highest (>80%) Azolla coverage. Seventytwo (81.8%) of the anopheline and 90 (82.6%) culicine breeding sites were infested with Azolla. Water bodies infested with green Azolla were more productive than those covered by brown coloured Azolla substrates for both culicines (13%) and anophelines (8%). Of the 1537 field collected larvae that hatched to adult stage, 646 (42.03%) were Anopheles gambiae s.l., 42 (2.73%) were An. funestus and 769 (50.03%) were Culex quinquefasciatus. These findings suggest that the mosquito productivity is low when the Azolla coverage is high (>80%). The promotion of Azolla in mosquito control should take into consideration the degree of Azolla coverage. | en_US |
| dc.description.sponsorship | Amani Medical Research, National Institute for Medical Research, SUA | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/2127 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.publisher | Tanzania Journal of Health Research | en_US |
| dc.relation.ispartofseries | Tanzania Journal of Health Research;1 | |
| dc.subject | Azolla | en_US |
| dc.subject | Mosquito | en_US |
| dc.subject | Larval productivity | en_US |
| dc.subject | Rice fields | en_US |
| dc.subject | Tanzania | en_US |
| dc.title | Mosquito larval productivity in rice-fields infested with Azolla in Mvomero District, Tanzania | en_US |
| dc.type | Article | en_US |