A team from the Andalusian School of Public Health, together with specialists from Seville and Córdoba, has synthesized the available evidence on the use de peces larvivores for break the mosquito cycle that transmit dengue, malaria, or Zika. The underlying question is clear: to what extent can this biological option be integrated into public health without generating collateral problems?
The work, published in the Spanish magazine of Public Health, compiles and evaluates previous studies with strict criteria to guide future decisions. Although the results are encouraging, the authors insist on the prudence and case-by-case analysis before recommending its large-scale deployment.
An independent synthesis on larvivorous fish and vector control
The review brings together evidence from seven investigations carried out in Asia, where fish that feed on mosquito larvae were introduced in different settings. The objective: to assess whether this more environmentally friendly biological tool provides consistent benefits compared to purely chemical methods.
Intervention contexts included domestic containers, ponds and other bodies of water such as rice fields and wells linked to hydraulic works. This diversity of environments provides a comprehensive picture of real-life situations where mosquito breeding grounds often proliferate, from the domestic environment to agricultural spaces.
Field results: 80 to 100% fewer larvae and positive clinical signs
In entomological indicators, the reviewed studies describe falls in between 80% and 100% in the presence of larvae after the introduction de peces larvivores. These are significant reductions that point to a clear potential for disrupting the aquatic phase of the vector.
In addition, in some of the experiences analyzed, effects were observed on epidemiological indicators, with reductions in clinical incidence of up to 99,87%Although not all studies measured this outcome, these signals reinforce the interest in exploring the approach in controllable contexts.
Conditions for scaling: feasibility, sustainability and ecological effects
The authors emphasize that, despite the favorable data, more is needed assess operational feasibility, sustainability over time, and cost-effectiveness compared to other alternatives. Not all ecosystems will respond the same, nor will all species. de peces are suitable anywhere.
Another pillar of the analysis is the ecological impact of introducing fish in specific water bodies. Before expanding use, pilot trials, environmental monitoring, and management protocols that minimize risks, including potential disruption to local aquatic communities, are recommended.
- Adaptive design the type of breeding farm and the local climate.
- Species selection appropriate for each ecosystem.
- Monitoring entomological and, where possible, epidemiological.
- Cost comparison with chemical and environmental control measures.
Where it fits into public health programs
The use de peces larvivores is posed as companion tool within integrated vector control strategies. First, locate breeding sites; then, assess species suitability, management, and maintenance; and finally, measure results and potential adverse effects.
This approach does not replace other interventions, but can add effectiveness in specific scenarios, especially where breeding sites are limited and monitoring can be ensured by local teams.
Academic framework and editorial guarantees
The publication is part of a doctoral thesis in progress which analyzes the effectiveness of various interventions against mosquito-borne diseases. In parallel, environmental and chemical control measures have been reviewed, and new syntheses on biological control are being prepared.
The article appears in the Spanish Journal of Public Health, a publication with peer review edited by the Ministry of Health and distributed in databases such as PubMed and Scopus, which provides methodological traceability and international visibility to the findings.
The evidence points to the fact that larvivorous fish They can significantly reduce mosquito breeding sites and, in certain contexts, contribute to a reduction in clinical cases; the key will be to implement them cautiously, study costs and benefits, and safeguard the ecological balance before moving to larger-scale operations.
