Larvicidal activity of chosen sponges against Anopheles stephensi:A Potential Mosquito Vector transmitting malarial parasites
Priya L, S Jawahar, Huxley VAJ
The Anopheles mosquito is also capable of transmitting filarial worms, various arboviruses, onyong-nyong, tataguine, equine encephalitis, as well as other viruses, but malaria is unquestionably the most threatening disease. It has also resulted in the development of resistance, undesirable effects on non-target organisms and fostered environmental and human health concern, which initiated a search for alternative control measures. The bioinsecticides are generally pest-specific, readily biodegradable and usually lack toxicity to higher animals. This study was undertaken to investigate the larvicidal potential of the two different sponges Callyspongia sp. and Sigmadocia carnosa against the medically important species of malaria vector Anopheles. Of the two sponge screened S. carnosa was found to effective against the larva A.stephensi. It is concluded that the sponges such as Callyspongia sp and S. carnosa serves as an excellent biopotent, which can be exploited for larvicidal property and can be cultivated in the coastal areas of the South East Coast of India.