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Cited by 21Malaria Research and ControlDengue and Mosquito Control ResearchMosquito-borne diseases and control

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The control of malaria vectors in rice fields: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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Chan, Kallista, Bottomley, Christian, Saito, Kazuki, Lines, Jo, Tusting, Lucy S.·2022·Scientific Reports
DOI 10.1038/s41598-022-24055-2PMC PMC9668837
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Abstract

The relatively stable aquatic conditions of irrigated lowland and rainfed rice, which is grown across 145 million hectares in more than 100 countries, are capable of generating large numbers of mosquito vectors of malaria, which causes more than 400,000 deaths per year worldwide. Many methods can control these vectors, but a systematic review has not previously been conducted. This study assesses whether larviciding, fish or intermittent irrigation can significantly reduce malaria vectors in rice fields whilst increasing rice yield. After a literature search for studies reporting the effect of larval control and rice cultivation practices on malaria vector densities in rice fields, 33 studies were eligible for meta-analysis. Larviciding was effective at reducing rice-field malaria vectors. Pooled analysis of five controlled time-series (CTS) studies with chemical insecticides showed an overall combined reduction of larval densities of 77% compared to no larviciding. Eight CTSs with biological larvicides showed a pooled reduction of 60% compared to no larviciding. Cultivating rice and fish together provided good control too: a pooled analysis of three CTSs showed an overall 82% reduction in anopheline larvae compared to no fish. Pooled analysis of four studies suggested that intermittent irrigation (using various timings and frequencies of drainage) is effective at reducing the abundance of late-stage anopheline larvae (pooled reduction = - 35%), but not overall immature abundance, compared to continuous flooding. We conclude that many interventions such as larvicides, fish and intermittent irrigation can provide riceland malaria vector control, but the critical obstacle to wider use is farmer acceptability. Future research should be led by the agricultural sector, with inputs from entomologists, to investigate malaria control co-benefits within high-yielding rice cultivation practices.

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  • Intermittent irrigation has been found to be effective in reducing larvae population compared to continuous irrigation by preventing the development of larvae into late-stage immatures.

    “For instance, intermittent irrigation has been found to be effective in reducing larvae population compared to continuous irrigation by preventing the development of larvae into late‐stage immatures (Chan et al., 2022; Djègbè et al., 2020).”

    From Investigating the Impact of Irrigation on Malaria Vector Larval Habitats and Transmission Using a Hydrology‐Based Model (2023) · cites this paper as Chan et al., 2022

    The Results (Rice cultivation practices) report that intermittent irrigation reduced late-instar larval abundance by a pooled 35% compared with continuous flooding, and the Discussion says it tends to prevent early instars from developing into late-stage immatures. But the Results found no consistent reduction in overall immature or larval density, so the broader claim that it reduces the larval population is not supported. (LLM, conf=0.90)

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Metadata

Authors
Chan, K., Bottomley, C., Saito, K., Lines, J., & Tusting, L. S.
Affiliations
  • London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (GB)
  • Africa Rice Center (CI)
Corresponding author
Chan, Kallista
ORCID
Venue
Scientific Reports
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2022-11-16
Volume
12
Issue
1
Pages
19694-19694
ISSN
2045-2322 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1038/s41598-022-24055-2
PMC
PMC9668837
OpenAlex
W4309472891
Cited by
21
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 2
FWCI
0.65
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Scientific Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • LSHTM Research Online (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) (acceptedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust (216098/Z/19/Z)
  • CGIAR Agriculture for Nutrition and Health Research Programme
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Malaria Research and Control
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Dengue and Mosquito Control Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Mosquito-borne diseases and control
Keywords
malaria vector control, paddy fields, larviciding, biological larvicide, fish farming, intermittent irrigation, anopheline mosquitoes, rice yield, farmer acceptability, integrated pest management
MeSH terms
Mosquito Vectors, Agriculture, Animals, Anopheles, Larva, Malaria, Oryza

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