Shading by Napier Grass Reduces Malaria Vector Larvae in Natural Habitats in Western Kenya Highlands |
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Authors: | Peter M Wamae Andrew K Githeko Diana M Menya Willem Takken |
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Institution: | (1) Climate and Human Health Research Unit, Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), P. O. Box 1578-40100, Kisumu, Kenya;(2) Department of Epidemiology and Nutrition, School of Public Health, Moi University, P. O. Box 4606, Eldoret, Kenya;(3) Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research Centre, P. O. Box 8031, 6700 EH Wageningen, The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | Increased human population in the Western Kenya highlands has led to reclamation of natural swamps resulting in the creation
of habitats suitable for the breeding of Anopheles gambiae, the major malaria vector in the region. Here we report on a study to restore the reclaimed swamp and reverse its suitability
as a habitat for malaria vectors. Napier grass-shaded and non-shaded water channels in reclaimed sites in Western Kenya highlands
were studied for the presence and density of mosquito larvae, mosquito species composition, and daily variation in water temperature.
Shading was associated with 75.5% and 88.4% (P < 0.0001) reduction in anopheline larvae densities and 78.1% and 88% (P < 0.0001) reduction in Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) densities in two sites, respectively. Shading was associated with a 5.7°C, 5.0°C, and 4.7°C, and 1.6°C, 3.9°C, and 2.8°C
(for maximum, minimum, and average temperatures, respectively) reduction (P < 0.0001) in water temperatures in the two locations, respectively. An. gambiae s.l. was the dominant species, constituting 83.2% and 73.1%, and 44.5% and 42.3%, of anophelines in non-shaded and shaded channels,
respectively, in the two sites, respectively. An. gambiae sensu stricto (s.s.) constituted the majority (97.4%) of An. gambiae s.l., while the rest (2.6%) comprised of Anopheles arabiensis. Minimum water temperature decreased with increasing grass height (P = 0.0039 and P = 0.0415 for Lunyerere and Emutete sites, respectively). The results demonstrate how simple environmental strategies can
have a strong impact on vector densities. |
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