Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/18497
Title: Increased malaria transmission around irrigation schemes in Ethiopia and the potential of canal water management for malaria vector control
Contributor(s): Birhanie, Solomon Kibret (author); Wilson, Glenn  (author); Tekie, Habte (author); Petros, Beyene (author)
Publication Date: 2014
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-13-360Open Access Link
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/18497
Abstract: 'Background': Irrigation schemes have been blamed for the increase in malaria in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa. However, proper water management could help mitigate malaria around irrigation schemes in this region. This study investigates the link between irrigation and malaria in Central Ethiopia. 'Methods': Larval and adult mosquitoes were collected fortnightly between November 2009 and October 2010 from two irrigated and two non-irrigated (control) villages in the Ziway area, Central Ethiopia. Daily canal water releases were recorded during the study period and bi-weekly correlation analysis was done to determine relationships between canal water releases and larval/adult vector densities. Blood meal sources (bovine vs human) and malaria sporozoite infection were tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Monthly malaria data were also collected from central health centre of the study villages. 'Results': Monthly malaria incidence was over six-fold higher in the irrigated villages than the non-irrigated villages. The number of anopheline breeding habitats was 3.6 times higher in the irrigated villages than the non-irrigated villages and the most common Anopheles mosquito breeding habitats were waterlogged field puddles, leakage pools from irrigation canals and poorly functioning irrigation canals. Larval and adult anopheline densities were seven- and nine-fold higher in the irrigated villages than in the non-irrigated villages, respectively, during the study period. Anopheles arabiensis was the predominant species in the study area. 'Plasmodium falciparum' sporozoite ratesm of An. arabiensis and Anopheles pharoensis were significantly higher in the irrigated villages than the non-irrigated villages. The annual entomological inoculation rate (EIR) calculated for the irrigated and non-irrigated villages were 34.8 and 0.25 'P. falciparum' infective bites per person per year, respectively. A strong positive correlation was found between bi-weekly anopheline larval density and canal water releases. Similarly, there was a strong positive correlation between bi-weekly vector density and canal water releases lagged by two weeks. Furthermore, monthly malaria incidence was strongly correlated with monthly vector density lagged by a month in the irrigated villages. 'Conclusion': The present study revealed that the irrigation schemes resulted in intensified malaria transmission due to poor canal water management. Proper canal water management could reduce vector abundance and malaria transmission in the irrigated villages.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Source of Publication: Malaria Journal, v.13, p. 1-12
Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd
Place of Publication: United Kingdom
ISSN: 1475-2875
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 050205 Environmental Management
050204 Environmental Impact Assessment
111706 Epidemiology
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 410404 Environmental management
410402 Environmental assessment and monitoring
420299 Epidemiology not elsewhere classified
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 960504 Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Farmland, Arable Cropland and Permanent Cropland Environments
960999 Land and Water Management of Environments not elsewhere classified
960905 Farmland, Arable Cropland and Permanent Cropland Water Management
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 180601 Assessment and management of terrestrial ecosystems
180699 Terrestrial systems and management not elsewhere classified
180607 Terrestrial erosion
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Appears in Collections:Journal Article

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