Onen Hudson, Kaddumukasa Martha A, Kayondo Jonathan K, Akol Anne M, Tripet Frédéric
Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, School of Biosciences, Makerere University, P.O Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
Department of Entomology, Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), P.O Box 49, Entebbe, Uganda.
Parasit Vectors. 2024 Jun 12;17(1):257. doi: 10.1186/s13071-024-06332-3.
Macroinvertebrate predators such as backswimmers (Heteroptera: Notonectidae), dragonflies (Odonata: Aeshnidae), and predatory diving beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) naturally inhabit aquatic ecosystems. Some aquatic ecosystems inhabited by these macroinvertebrate predator taxa equally form malaria vector larval habitats. The presence of these predators in malaria vector larval habitats can negatively impact on development, adult body size, fecundity, and longevity of the malaria vectors, which form important determinants of their fitness and future vectorial capacity. These potential negative impacts caused by aquatic macroinvertebrate predators on malaria vectors warrant their consideration as biocontrol agents in an integrated program to combat malaria. However, the use of these macroinvertebrate predators in malaria biocontrol is currently constrained by technical bottlenecks linked to their generalist predatory tendencies and often long life cycles, demanding complex rearing systems. We reviewed the literature on the use of aquatic macroinvertebrate predators for biocontrol of malaria vectors from the An. gambiae s.l. complex. The available information from laboratory and semi-field studies has shown that aquatic macroinvertebrates have the potential to consume large numbers of mosquito larvae and could thus offer an additional approaches in integrated malaria vector management strategies. The growing number of semi-field structures available in East and West Africa provides an opportunity to conduct ecological experimental studies to reconsider the potential of using aquatic macroinvertebrate predators as a biocontrol tool. To achieve a more sustainable approach to controlling malaria vector populations, additional, non-chemical interventions could provide a more sustainable approach, in comparison with the failing chemical control tools, and should be urgently considered for integration with the current mosquito vector control campaigns.
大型无脊椎动物捕食者，如仰泳蝽（半翅目：仰泳蝽科）、蜻蜓（蜻蜓目：蜓科）和捕食性潜水甲虫（鞘翅目：龙虱科）自然栖息于水生生态系统。这些大型无脊椎动物捕食者类群所栖息的一些水生生态系统同样构成了疟疾病媒幼虫的栖息地。这些捕食者在疟疾病媒幼虫栖息地的存在会对疟疾病媒的发育、成虫体型、繁殖力和寿命产生负面影响，而这些因素是它们适合度和未来传病能力的重要决定因素。水生大型无脊椎动物捕食者对疟疾病媒造成的这些潜在负面影响，使其有理由被视为疟疾综合防治计划中的生物防治剂。然而，目前在疟疾生物防治中使用这些大型无脊椎动物捕食者受到技术瓶颈的限制，这些瓶颈与它们的泛食性捕食倾向以及通常较长的生命周期有关，需要复杂的饲养系统。我们回顾了关于使用水生大型无脊椎动物捕食者对冈比亚按蚊复合种群的疟疾病媒进行生物防治的文献。来自实验室和半野外研究的现有信息表明，水生大型无脊椎动物有潜力消耗大量蚊虫幼虫，因此可以为疟疾媒介综合管理策略提供额外的方法。东非和西非现有的半野外结构数量不断增加，为开展生态实验研究提供了机会，以重新考虑使用水生大型无脊椎动物捕食者作为生物防治工具的潜力。与失败的化学防治工具相比，为了实现更可持续的疟疾病媒种群控制方法，额外的非化学干预措施可以提供一种更可持续的方法，应紧急考虑将其与当前的蚊虫媒介控制活动相结合。
