Mesocosm Experiments to Quantify Predation of Mosquito Larvae by Aquatic Predators to Determine Potential of Ecological Control of Malaria Vectors in Ethiopia
Malaria parasites are transmitted to humans by infectious female <i>Anopheles</i> mosquitoes. Chemical-insecticide-based mosquito control has been successful in reducing the burden of malaria. However, the emergence of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors and concerns about the effe...
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MDPI AG
2021-06-01
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/13/6904 |
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Article |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Beekam Kebede Olkeba Peter L. M. Goethals Pieter Boets Luc Duchateau Teshome Degefa Kasahun Eba Delenasaw Yewhalaw Seid Tiku Mereta |
spellingShingle |
Beekam Kebede Olkeba Peter L. M. Goethals Pieter Boets Luc Duchateau Teshome Degefa Kasahun Eba Delenasaw Yewhalaw Seid Tiku Mereta Mesocosm Experiments to Quantify Predation of Mosquito Larvae by Aquatic Predators to Determine Potential of Ecological Control of Malaria Vectors in Ethiopia International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health malaria <i>Anopheles</i> larvae predators gut analysis semi-field experiment Ethiopia |
author_facet |
Beekam Kebede Olkeba Peter L. M. Goethals Pieter Boets Luc Duchateau Teshome Degefa Kasahun Eba Delenasaw Yewhalaw Seid Tiku Mereta |
author_sort |
Beekam Kebede Olkeba |
title |
Mesocosm Experiments to Quantify Predation of Mosquito Larvae by Aquatic Predators to Determine Potential of Ecological Control of Malaria Vectors in Ethiopia |
title_short |
Mesocosm Experiments to Quantify Predation of Mosquito Larvae by Aquatic Predators to Determine Potential of Ecological Control of Malaria Vectors in Ethiopia |
title_full |
Mesocosm Experiments to Quantify Predation of Mosquito Larvae by Aquatic Predators to Determine Potential of Ecological Control of Malaria Vectors in Ethiopia |
title_fullStr |
Mesocosm Experiments to Quantify Predation of Mosquito Larvae by Aquatic Predators to Determine Potential of Ecological Control of Malaria Vectors in Ethiopia |
title_full_unstemmed |
Mesocosm Experiments to Quantify Predation of Mosquito Larvae by Aquatic Predators to Determine Potential of Ecological Control of Malaria Vectors in Ethiopia |
title_sort |
mesocosm experiments to quantify predation of mosquito larvae by aquatic predators to determine potential of ecological control of malaria vectors in ethiopia |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
issn |
1661-7827 1660-4601 |
publishDate |
2021-06-01 |
description |
Malaria parasites are transmitted to humans by infectious female <i>Anopheles</i> mosquitoes. Chemical-insecticide-based mosquito control has been successful in reducing the burden of malaria. However, the emergence of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors and concerns about the effect of the chemicals on the environment, human health, and non-target organisms present a need for new or alternative vector control intervention tools. Biocontrol methods using aquatic invertebrate predators have emerged as a potential alternative and additional tool to control mosquito populations. Ecological control specifically makes use of species insights for improving the physical habitat conditions of competitors and predators of vectors. A first step towards this is to gain knowledge on the predation potential of several typically present macroinvertebrates. Hence, this study aimed at (1) examining the influence of the predation of hemipterans on the number of emerging adult mosquitoes and (2) detecting <i>Anopheles</i> mosquito DNA in the gut of those predators. The prey and predators were collected from a range of water bodies located in the Gilgel Gibe watershed, southwest Ethiopia. A semi-field study was carried out using mesocosms which were constructed using plastic containers mimicking the natural aquatic habitat of immature <i>Anopheles</i> mosquitoes. Adult mosquitoes that emerged from the mesocosms were collected using a mechanical aspirator. At the end of the experiment, predators were withdrawn from the mesocosms and identified to genus level. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was employed to identify sibling species of <i>Anopheles gambiae</i> s.l. and to detect <i>Anopheles</i> mosquito DNA in the gut of the predators. Data were analysed using R software. Giant water bugs (belostomatids) were the most aggressive predators of <i>Anopheles</i> larvae, followed by backswimmers (notonectids) and water boatmen (corixids). All female <i>Anopheles gambiae</i> s.l. emerged from the mesocosms were identified as <i>Anopheles arabiensis</i>. <i>Anopheles arabiensis</i> DNA was detected in the gut content of hemipteran specimens analysed from the three families. The number of the adult mosquitoes emerging from the mesocosms was affected by the presence of predators. The findings of this study provide evidence of the potential use of aquatic macroinvertebrate predators as biocontrol agents against immature <i>Anopheles</i> mosquitoes and their potential to be considered as a component of integrated vector management for insecticide resistance and the combined restoration of aquatic ecosystems via smart ecological engineering. |
topic |
malaria <i>Anopheles</i> larvae predators gut analysis semi-field experiment Ethiopia |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/13/6904 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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doaj-2f5720f58933401c90446c06dbd1b6212021-07-15T15:34:57ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1661-78271660-46012021-06-01186904690410.3390/ijerph18136904Mesocosm Experiments to Quantify Predation of Mosquito Larvae by Aquatic Predators to Determine Potential of Ecological Control of Malaria Vectors in EthiopiaBeekam Kebede Olkeba0Peter L. M. Goethals1Pieter Boets2Luc Duchateau3Teshome Degefa4Kasahun Eba5Delenasaw Yewhalaw6Seid Tiku Mereta7Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Building F, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumDepartment of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Building F, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumDepartment of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Building F, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumBiometrics Research Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, BelgiumSchool of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma P.O. Box 378, EthiopiaDepartment of Environmental Health Science and Technology, Jimma University, Jimma P.O. Box 378, EthiopiaSchool of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma P.O. Box 378, EthiopiaDepartment of Environmental Health Science and Technology, Jimma University, Jimma P.O. Box 378, EthiopiaMalaria parasites are transmitted to humans by infectious female <i>Anopheles</i> mosquitoes. Chemical-insecticide-based mosquito control has been successful in reducing the burden of malaria. However, the emergence of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors and concerns about the effect of the chemicals on the environment, human health, and non-target organisms present a need for new or alternative vector control intervention tools. Biocontrol methods using aquatic invertebrate predators have emerged as a potential alternative and additional tool to control mosquito populations. Ecological control specifically makes use of species insights for improving the physical habitat conditions of competitors and predators of vectors. A first step towards this is to gain knowledge on the predation potential of several typically present macroinvertebrates. Hence, this study aimed at (1) examining the influence of the predation of hemipterans on the number of emerging adult mosquitoes and (2) detecting <i>Anopheles</i> mosquito DNA in the gut of those predators. The prey and predators were collected from a range of water bodies located in the Gilgel Gibe watershed, southwest Ethiopia. A semi-field study was carried out using mesocosms which were constructed using plastic containers mimicking the natural aquatic habitat of immature <i>Anopheles</i> mosquitoes. Adult mosquitoes that emerged from the mesocosms were collected using a mechanical aspirator. At the end of the experiment, predators were withdrawn from the mesocosms and identified to genus level. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was employed to identify sibling species of <i>Anopheles gambiae</i> s.l. and to detect <i>Anopheles</i> mosquito DNA in the gut of the predators. Data were analysed using R software. Giant water bugs (belostomatids) were the most aggressive predators of <i>Anopheles</i> larvae, followed by backswimmers (notonectids) and water boatmen (corixids). All female <i>Anopheles gambiae</i> s.l. emerged from the mesocosms were identified as <i>Anopheles arabiensis</i>. <i>Anopheles arabiensis</i> DNA was detected in the gut content of hemipteran specimens analysed from the three families. The number of the adult mosquitoes emerging from the mesocosms was affected by the presence of predators. The findings of this study provide evidence of the potential use of aquatic macroinvertebrate predators as biocontrol agents against immature <i>Anopheles</i> mosquitoes and their potential to be considered as a component of integrated vector management for insecticide resistance and the combined restoration of aquatic ecosystems via smart ecological engineering.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/13/6904malaria<i>Anopheles</i> larvaepredatorsgut analysissemi-field experimentEthiopia |