Background: There is a high risk of malaria
infection in Uganda due to availability of conducive conditions in breeding
habitats of An. gambiae s.l., the vectors for Plasmodium, the causative agent
of malaria.
Aim: The aim of this study was to determine
whether the abundance and distribution of macro-invertebrates and An. gambiae
s.l. are influenced by water physico-chemical parameters.
Methods: In this study, habitats were
classified as ponds, streams, temporary pools and roadside ditches. From these
habitats, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, temperature and pH
were measured in-situ in the morning and afternoon between October and December
2017. Macro-invertebrates and An. gambiae s.l. larvae were sampled, preserved,
morphologically identified and counted.
Results: There was a strong association
between An. gambiae s.l. with land use, habitat types and water
physico-chemical parameters. Baetidae, Coenagrionidae, Aeshnidae, Nepidae,
Lymnaeidae and Hirudidae were highly abundant in streams. Notonectidae,
Haliplidae and Elmidae were dominant in ponds while Dytiscidae, Culicidae,
Chironomidae, Sphaerolichidae and An. gambiae s.l. were abundant in temporary
pools. Carabidae were abundant in roadside ditches.
Conclusion: Water physico-chemical
parameters, land use and habitat types influenced the abundance and
distribution of macro-invertebrates including An. gambiae s.l. We recommend
that studies should be conducted to establish the mechanisms through which
these factors influence abundance and distribution of An. gambiae s.l. and
other macro-invertebrates.
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