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Larvivorous fish for preventing malaria transmission.
Deirdre P Walshe1, Paul Garner, Ahmed A Adeel
1Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, UK, L3 5QA.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|December 12, 2017
Summary
Introducing larvivorous fish may reduce immature malaria vectors in the short term, but evidence is insufficient to confirm impact on malaria transmission. Further research is needed, avoiding standalone fish stocking programs.
Area of Science:
- Vector-borne disease control
- Ecological interventions
- Malaria transmission dynamics
Background:
- Anopheles mosquitoes transmit malaria parasites.
- Larvivorous fish consume mosquito larvae and pupae.
- WHO considers larvivorous fish for biological control of malaria vectors.
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate if introducing larvivorous fish impacts Plasmodium parasite transmission.
- Summarize studies on fish effects on Anopheles larvae and pupae density.
Main Methods:
- Searched multiple databases (Cochrane, PubMed, Embase) up to July 2017.
- Included RCTs and non-RCTs from malaria-endemic regions.
- Secondary analysis focused on immature anopheline density and presence.
Main Results:
- No studies reported effects on malaria infection or adult Anopheles density.
- 15 small, high-risk-of-bias studies examined immature stages.
- Evidence insufficient to determine if fish reduce larvae/pupae; some studies showed short-term reduction.
Conclusions:
- Impact of larvivorous fish on malaria transmission remains unknown.
- High fish stocking may reduce immature vectors short-term, but consistency and transmission impact are unclear.
- Avoid investing in fish stocking outside controlled research settings.
