Field application of Romanomermis culicivorax (Mermithidae: Nematoda) to control anopheline larvae in southern Iran.

The efficacy of the parasitic nematode Romanomermis culcivorax in controlling anopheline larvae, including malaria vectors, was studied in Fars and Baluchistan provinces. Twenty sites were treated once with the preparastic stage of R. culicivorax in 1984 with 3,000, 5,000 or 10,000 preparasites per m2 surface area, depending on larval density. The average parasitism of anopheline larvae ranged from 56 to 69% based on 24 hr posttreatment dissections. No correlation was found between the level of parasitism and the density of mosquito larvae present in a site. About 61% parasitism was obtained when different rates of preparasites were released in 14 larval breeding sites in 1985. No apparent difference was observed in the rate of parasitism in 10 sites receiving one treatment compared with four sites receiving two treatments, with a seven day interval between each treatment. Romanomermis culcivorax was established in the release sites but caused only minor reductions in anopheline larval populations. The nematode would be of limited use in antimalaria campaigns in southern Iran.