Authors : Jasper Ogwal-Okeng, James Kalema, Mary Namaganda, Aloysius Lubega, Moses Zziwa and Godfrey S. Bbosa
Abstract: Malaria is still a major killer disease in tropical Africa, contributing 10% to the overall disease burden. The Plasmodium parasites are mainly transmitted by the mosquitoes Anopheles gambiae and A. funestus in Uganda. Approaches for malaria vector control include denial of breeding ground near human dwellings, use of insecticide treated nets and chemical spraying. Chemical approaches raise challenges of vector resistance, non-target specificity and ecological and human health concerns. In view of these draw backs, this research explored the effects of carnivorous plants of the genera; Aldrovanda vesiculosa (A. vesiculosa) and Utricularia reflexa (U. reflexa) against the fourth instar larvae of Anopheles mosquito. A. vesiculosa and U. reflexa are aquatic carnivorous plants that derive some or most of their nutrients from trapping and consuming animals or protozoans, typically insects and other arthropods. Aldrovanda and Utricularia grow in water and have bladder traps that suck in prey by generating an internal vacuum. Some of the prey may include mosquito larvae from the breeding sites. The plants were collected from the wild and allowed to grow in the laboratory. Larvicidal bioassays were done to determine their effectiveness to ingest and reduce the population of mosquito larvae in the laboratory. The carnivorous plants remarkably reduced the larvae population in 5 days. All the 20 larvae in each of the control vessels remained alive and active during the test period. It was concluded that aquatic carnivorous plants are potential biological agents for ecologically sound and sustainable strategy for controlling malaria in Uganda.
Jasper Ogwal-Okeng, James Kalema, Mary Namaganda, Aloysius Lubega, Moses Zziwa and Godfrey S. Bbosa, 2011. Larvicidal Activity of Aquatic Carnivorous Plants on Anopheles Mosquito Larval Stages. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 6: 436-439.