Central Annals of Community Medicine and Practice

Short Communication *Corresponding author María del Carmen Marquetti Fernández, Department Vector Control, Institute of Tropical Medicine Pedro Habitat Characterization Kourí, La Habana, Cuba. Cuban Medical Cooperation in Angola, Email: and Spatial Distribution of Submitted: 07 December 2016 Accepted: 30 December 2016 Anopheles Sp Mosquito Larvae Published: 02 January 2017 Copyright in , Angola © 2017 del Carmen Marquetti Fernández et al. OPEN ACCESS María del Carmen Marquetti Fernández1*, Yoenys Hidalgo Flores2, and Duniarliz Lamothe Nuviola2 Keywords 1Department Vector Control, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí, Cuba • Anopheles sp 2Cuban Control Programanti-Larval Malaria Vectors with Biolarvicides in Angola, • Habitat characterization Cuba • Malaria • Luanda • Angola Abstract Anophelesgambiae and Anophelesfunestus are the main vectors of malaria in Angola. The objective of this work was to obtain information about the habitat characterization of Anopheles sp. Mosquito larvae in Luanda. Mosquito larvae sampling was conducted to determine the presence or absence of Anopheles mosquito larvae during January and March 2015. A total of 512 potential mosquito breeding sites were sampled, 437 (85,3%) were productive for mosquitos About 135 of 179 (75,4%) of all available Anopheles sp. habitats were man-made. Anopheles sp. Larvae presence was much more likely to found in ground drains, concrete drains, puddles, ground wells and concrete wells than other habitats. Breeding sites with sunlit presence and semi-polluted and clear water were more likely to contain Anopheles sp. larvae than others. This results combined with improved knowledge of mosquito ecology and their interactions with humans, is crucial to understand the epidemiology of urban malaria in the capital of Angola.

INTRODUCTION Estrategico Nacionalpara o Control da Malaria em Angola 2015 In the Afro tropical Region, where Malaria is transmitted topopulational 2020). though to date coverage is insufficient (Plano mainly by Anopheles funestus and members of the Anopheles gambiae complex, gaps in information on larval ecology and the Anophelesgambiae and Anophelesfunestus are the main vectors ability of An. gambiaes.l. To exploit a wide variety of larval habitats of malaria in Angola, but other species such as Anophelesarabiensis, have discouraged efforts to develop and implement larval control Anopheles nili, Anophelesmelas and Anophelespharoensis are also strategies [1]. reported [4]. In recent years there is increasing interest in the Studies carried out in Luanda founded low Malaria Implementation of the reduction and management of larval populations of mosquito vectors of Malariain Africa, highlighting parasitaemia (5.5%) in children under5 years compared with the use of two bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillussphaericus because these are highly effective against mosquito larvae [2,3]. increased29% in neighboring with distance provinces from the [5], city while center a [6]. low However, prevalence the provinceof confirmed of Luanda cases was reported the most with cases Malariain of Malaria Luanda,reported whichin the In Angola Malaria vector control is directed primarily to the Bacillusthuringiensis most of these cases were clinically diagnosed and no information ® ® ) and Bacillussphaericus ), which are applied iscountry available with on over where 30% they and were 3% acquired.mortality during 2013, although byanti-larval brigades fight anti larvalusing struggle, these larvicides at the level ( of municipalities, created(Bactivec to support Cuban cooperation,(Griselesf which has been developing The objective of this work was to obtain information about this activity within the Program of National Malaria Control since the habitat characterization of Anopheles sp. Mosquito larvae in 2009, in addition limited actions of intra household spraying Luanda, Angola. This work was carried out in order to collect with use of pyrethroids and more over since 2006 has increased base line information for to improve the larval control mosquito the distribution of impregnated mosquito net sare made in the through the biolarvicides application implemented in Luanda.

Cite this article: del Carmen Marquetti Fernández M, Flores YH, Nuviola DL (2017) Habitat Characterization and Spatial Distribution of Anopheles Sp Mos- quito Larvae in Luanda, Angola. Ann Community Med Pract 3(1): 1016. del Carmen Marquetti Fernández et al. (2017) Email: [email protected]; [email protected] Central

The study was carried out in Luanda, the capital of Angola, The majority of the breeding sites with Anopheles sp. larvae presence were founded in the most urban municipality Census data conducted from 15-31of May, 2014; National Instituteas a population of Statistics). estimated A of large 6 542 proportion 944 inhabitants of the (Nationalresidents of Luanda live in densely populated urban slums. The city is (Luanda) 100 (55,9%) of the total. Icolo de Bengo and Quissama showed the most low percentages (4,5%) and (5,6%). The rest of the municipalities Viana, , y Belas showed thedivided same in name 7 municipalities as the province Belas, and Cacuaco, conformed Cazenga, by , Icolo de Presence/absencepercentages between 7,2% of Anopheles to 9,5%. sp. Larvae ,Bengo, Quissama, Rangel, Samba, Viana and Luanda and municipality Kilamba Kiaxi which districts has respectively. Each municipality is divided into comunes and concrete wells were much more likely to contain Anopheles sp. these in neighborhoods. The rainy season is between November- larvaeGround than other drains, habitats, concrete drains, puddles, ground wells and May but the most accumulation of rain in Luanda occurs in presence and semi-polluted water and clear water were more March- April. Luanda had an annual rainfall of 323 millimeters likely to contain Anopheles (Figuresp. larvae. 1). HoweverBreeding Anophelessites with larvaesunlit during 2013 with values of 27,9 millimeters for November and presence not showed predilection for presence or absence of 12,7 millimeters in April with a peak of rainfall in April 116,8 vegetation at the breeding sites. Despite the study was carried out Average Climatic Conditions Luanda, Angola; Anopheles sp breeding Weather, 2013). The data collection was conducted from January millimetersto March 2015 ( belonging to rainy season. Each area was visited BBC in rainy season 148 (82,7%) of the total of only once time of breeding sites in all municipalities of Luanda. sites were classifies as permanent breeding sites. Aboutpurposes 135 of 179 (75,4%). of all available habitats were man-made, of them 48 in all municipalities for to sampling with the mainly objective to (35,5%) for drainages and 66 (48,8%) for water storage Anopheles mosquitoes in general can be Opendetermine natural the and presence artificial or absencewater bodies of Anopheles were selected mosquito randomly larvae (Table 1) using standard procedures. A total of 512 were selected; 185 in amongBreeding them the sites lagoons of , streams, back waters of rivers, irrigation Luanda municipality conformed by Ingombota, Maianga, Rangel, natural or artificial permanently or semi-permanent prominent Samba, Sambizanga and Kilamba Kiaxi districts; 95 for Cacuaco y ofVianaperi the province urban and municipalities; 25 for Cazenga 52 for situated Belas coastal in the municipality;center of the province.30 for Icolo From de Bengo every and potential Quissama breeding the most site rural up to municipalities 5 dips were characterization only was carried out in the breeding sites with Anophelestaken with mosquito’s a standard presence.white 350 ml dipper (WHO 1992). Habitat to the malaria program established in the province and trained for theThe activity staff (5 by persons) Cuban specialist that performed in vector the control. sampling All belongssample included different parameters: location of breeding sites; man– made or not breeding sites; presence/absence of Anopheles larvae; presence/absence of sunlit; sun receives only part of the day) and shaded; presence/absence of any Totals of larvae presence in different breeding vegetation, partly sunny ( Figure 1 Anopheles sp sites in Luanda, January- March 2015. appreciation semi permanentwater breedingturbidity (pollute, sites. The semi-pollute sampled mosquito or clear water) larvae (qualitative ) and the classification in permanent or was transferred to small labelled vials and sent to the entomology Table 1: Number and percentage of different parameters analyzed in laboratory belonging to Malaria Control Program at the Ministry Anopheles sp. breeding sites in Luanda, January-March 2015. Total Parameters % del total Pupae were not recorded as they cannot be differentiated from (N= 179) non-of HealthAnopheles in Luanda for the identification only at genus level. Sunlit 136 75,9 Partially sunlit 34 19,1 Each site was categorized as one of the following habitat type: species in the field. Shaded 9 5,0 Any vegetation presence 86 49,1 natural lagoons, cisterns, tanks, swampy areas, puddles, ground No vegetation presence 93 51,9 wells,concrete concrete drains, wells, ground wells drains, covered flooded with yards,tires of flooded used cars houses, and Clear water 72 40,2 sewerage. Semi-polluted water 80 44,7 A total of 512 potential mosquito breeding sites were sampled, Polluted water 27 15,1 Permanent breeding sites 148 82,7 Semi- permanent breeding sites 31 17,3 75 (14,6%) were negative to mosquito larvae at the time of visit. Anopheles sp. larvae Man-made breeding sites 135 75,4 Of the 512 sites 258 (50,4%) were productive for only culicines, Anopheles sp. mosquitoes. Natural breeding sites 44 24,6 143 (27,9%) were productive for culicine and and 36 (7,1%) were productive only for Ann Community Med Pract 3(1): 1016 (2017) 2/4 del Carmen Marquetti Fernández et al. (2017) Email: [email protected]; [email protected] Central canals, animal foot prints, small holes in the ground associated to require suppression of all mosquito species, rather than only with the presence of vegetation. Recently studies in urban areas malaria vectors. of some cities in Africa and America have also reported the In conclusion, all potential breeding sites need to be presence of Anophelessp. In water with high organic pollution considered as sources of malaria risk and exhaustively targeted content [7-13]. It is possible, however, that these habitats have always been capable of supporting larvae, if not to the same vectors breeding sites provides an approach to the understanding ofin vector any larval distribution control intervention.and ecology about These the finding malaria about vectors malaria in and ‘polluted’ water itself is unclear when examining the original Luanda that is essential for the malaria larval control programs literature.frequency as ‘cleaner’ sites. Indeed, the definition of ‘clean’, ‘dirty’ strategies and for to malaria control in the Angola capital. On the The ecological processes associated with urbanization should, other hand mapping of malaria risk on the basis of breeding sites in theory, limit Malaria transmission by reducing the opportunities plays an important role for urban malaria control programs. Also, for vector breeding and the degree of contact between humans initial risk mapping of breeding sites, combined with improved and vectors. Improved access to health care and Malaria control knowledge of mosquito ecology and their interactions with measures also should contribute to a reduced burden of Malaria humans, is crucial to understand the epidemiology of urban malaria in the country. but also suggests that the existence of diverse epidemiological disease. Evidence from the field largely bears out this theory ACKNOWLEDGMENTS most cases, a human settlement initially favours the multiplication The authors wish thanks to Ministry of Health, Dr. Filomeno ofsituation breeding in sitesmost and urban the areasperennial makes presence generalization of high densitiesdifficult. Inof Fortes Chief of National Malaria Control Program in Angola, all Anopheles sp. [14]. Heads of Health at the municipalities and districts levels; Angolan Man-made larval habitats in close vicinity to human habitation brigades vector control staff; Cuban specialists belonging to are known to play an important role in Anopheles proliferation the population of the province of Luanda for his contribution to [15,16], especially in the dry season when supported by human Control Programm anti-larval against malaria (LABIOFAM) and activity [17]. The very common ground and concrete drains and the realization of this work. wells provide excellent conditions for both Anopheles and culicine REFERENCES larvae as they keep water for considerably longer time than 1. Walker K, Lynch M. Contributions of Anopheles larval control to malaria suppression in tropical Africa: review of achievements and from human activities and waste so that the number of available natural habitats. Furthermore, they are often re-filled with water potential. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013. 2. habitatsCoexistence is artificially ofanophelines kept higher and than culicinesmosquito rain alone would was support found at sites during the study. Researchers about setting Anophelessp. forMinakawa controlling N, Sonye malaria G, Futami in western K, Kaneko Kenya. S, StudyMoushinzimana design and E, methods. Fillinger In these hábitats would be necessary for a better understanding TropU. A large-scale Med Health. field 2007; trial 35: to 41-45.evaluate the efficacy of bacillus larvicides of the distribution of breeding sites of the vectors of malaria in 3. Luanda. vector control with microbial larvicides and insecticide –treated nets Fillinger U, Ndenga B, Githeko A, Lindsay SN. Integrated malaria Main limitations of the study 87: 9. in western Kenya: a controlled trial. Bull World Health Organ. 2009; 4. Cuamba N, Kwang Shik C, Townson H. Malaria vectors in Angola: for to obtain information about the habitat characterization of distribution of species and molecular forms of the Anopheles gambiae AnophelesThis study sp represents the first results carried out in urban area status and Plasmodium falciparums porozoite rates. Malar J. 2006; 5: 2. studies are currently being undertaken to complement these complex, their pyretroid insecticide knockdown resistance (kdr) results. The . studymosquito was larvae implemented in Luanda only (Angola). during More rainy intensive season. 5. Cosep Consultoria, Consaúde, and ICF International. Angola Malaria It’s recommended to repeat in dry season when the selectivity of Indicator Survey 2011. Calverton, Maryland. 2011. 6. Thwing JI, Mihigo J, Fernandes A, Sante F, Ferreira C, Fortes F, et al. small breeding sites could not be selected and were, therefore, How much malaria occurs in urban Luanda, Angola? A health facility- largelymosquitoes excluded for ovi from position the studysites can and be Anopheles greatly diminished. sp. mosquitoes Very base assessment. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2009; 3: 487-491. 7. The goal of the study was to characterize important breeding Anopheles gambiaes.s. were not classified down to species level. 2004;Minakawa 18: 3: N, 301-305. Sonye G, Mogi M, Yan G. Habitat characteristics of sites of Anopheles sp. mosquitoes and, consequently, potential foci larvae in a Kenyan highland. Med Vet Entomol. of malaria transmission, regardless of the species. This is because 8. in the context of sustainable operations in a routine mosquito al. Habitat characterization and spatial distribution of Anopheles sp. Sattler MA, Mtasiwa D, Kiama M, Premji Z, Tanner M, Killeen GF, et control programs municipal staff cannot be expected to identify period. Malar J. 2005; 4: 4. all Anopheles larvae samples to species level without rendering Mosquito larvae in Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) during an extended dry sampling procedures prohibitively laborious and expensive. To 9. achieve a satisfactory impact, exhaustive targeting of all potential et al. The spatial distribution of Anopheles gambiaesensustricto and An. Sogoba N, Vounatsou P, Bagayoko MM, Doumbia S, Dolo G, Gasoniu L, vector species is necessary anyway. Furthermore, community arabiensis 222. acceptance of vector control programs in Luanda has been shown (Diptera: Culicidae) in Mali. Geospat Health. 2007; 2: 213- 10.

Marquetti MC, Rojas L, Birniwa MM, Sulaiman HU, Adamu HH. Ann Community Med Pract 3(1): 1016 (2017) 3/4 del Carmen Marquetti Fernández et al. (2017) Email: [email protected]; [email protected] Central

ón de los sitios de cría de Anophelessp. durante parte de la 14. Casman E, Dowlatabadi H. The contextual determinants of Malaria. estación seca en el estado de Jigawa, Nigeria. Rev Cubana Med Trop. Resources for the future Washington, DC. 2002; 381. Identificaci2007; 59: 166-168. 15. Anopheles gambiae. World Health Organization, 11. Marquetti MC, Rojas L, Pomier O. Asesoría cubana en el control de los vectores de malaria durante un brote epidémico en Jamaica y en dos Holstein MH. Biology of 16. países endémicos de Á édica. 2008 ; 19: 1. Geneva, Switzerland. 1954. distribution on the abundance of African malaria vectors in western Minakawa N, Seda P, Yan G. Influence of host and larval habitat 12. frica. Rev Biom Kenya. Amer J of Trop Med and Hyg. 2002; 67, 32-38. Oduola OA, et al. Physico-chemical characteristics of Anopheles 17. Oyewolebreeding sites: IO, Momoh impact OO,on fecundity Anyasor and GN, progeny Ogunnowo development. AA, Ibidapo African CA, importance of permanent and semi permanent habitats for controlling J Environm Science and Technology. 2009; 3: 12: 447-452. aquaticFillinger stages U, Sonye of Anopheles G, Killeen gambiae GF, Knols sensulato BG, Beckermosquitoes: N. The operational practical 13. ériè observations from a rural town in western Kenya. Trop Med Int Health. D. Spatial and temporal distribution patterns of Anopheles arabiensis 2004; 9: 1274-1289. breedingGouagna LC, sites Dehecq in La JB, Reuni Girodón R, island-multi-year Boyer S, Lemp trendre G, analysis Fontenille of 2011; 4: 121.

historical records from 1996-2009. Parasites Vectors.

Cite this article del Carmen Marquetti Fernández M, Flores YH, Nuviola DL (2017) Habitat Characterization and Spatial Distribution of Anopheles Sp Mosquito Larvae in Luanda, Angola. Ann Community Med Pract 3(1): 1016.

Ann Community Med Pract 3(1): 1016 (2017) 4/4