Use of larvivorous fish for vector control in the Malvides Republic

The paper reports on the use of three larvivorous fishes in the Maldives Republic: Poecilia reticulata (Poeciliidae), Mollienesia sphenops (Cyprinodontidae) and for the first time Kuhlia taeniurus (Kuhliidae), a sea fish adapted to life in wells, which are the only sources of water supply (with the exception of a few rain-water cisterns). The approximately 20 000 wells are the main and all-year-round breeding places for both Anophelines and Culicines. Due to this type of breeding places, Maldives are in a unique situation, that the fish can theoretically be used as the main control measure for filariasis. This requires an absolute minimum of work and no cost at all. There has been a reduction of the filariasis overall endemicity rates over the last 10 years although no specific measures have been carried out (except in the capital city of Male) nor have any ecological changes taken place, which could explain this decrease. With this decrease however there has been lately a marked reduction in the percentage of wells with fish in some atolls.