Studies on anopheline larvae in El Faiyum Governorate, Egypt

In Egypt, malaria is still reported as sporadic cases or small outbreaks particularly in El Faiyum Governorate. This paper aimed to identify and to study the breeding and seasonal activities of anopheline larvae. Spot light surveys were carried out in five different ecological areas (Karoun Lake, El Fedemean, El Siliyien, Kom-Osheim and Sinouris) from September 1991 to August 1992. Three species of Anopheles larvae were encountered: A. (Cellia) pharoensis (43%), A. (Cellia) sergenti (29.8%) and A. (Cellia) multicolor (27.2%). Several type of breeding places were encountered for the three species. A. pharoensis preferred clear, shallow, stagnant water with thick growth of vegetations an shae especially in rice fields. A. sergenti preferred clean, shallow to deep stagnant or slow-moving water with vegetations especially in small water collections in grassy areas and under palm trees. A. multicolor preferred shallow, stagnant water, sometimes partially exposed to sunlight especially in seepage water. The breeding waters for the three species were alkaline. Seasonal study of the anopheline larvae were conducted in three villages: Abheit El Hagar, El Zawia El Khadra and Tersa, in Sinouris Center during the year 1993. A. pharoensis larvae were abundant in the three villages in June, July, August and September with a peak in June. No breeding was noticed in January and February. A. sergenti larvae were abundant from September to November in the three villages, the lowest density was recorded in January and July in Abheit, in April in El Zawia and in June in Tersa. No breeding in February in the three villages was noticed and also in March in Abheit and Tersa. A multicolor larvae were recorded in Abheit and Tersa. In Abheit, the highest density was recorded in November with no breeding in January, February, March and June while in Tersa, the highest density was recorded in October and November with no breeding in January, February, March, April, July and December. The whole results were discussed.