Fish used to fight malaria

A new method of controlling malaria using larvae-eating fish is being developed.

Scientists at Tanzania's Tropical Pesticide Research Institute (TPRI), together with the Poseidon Science Foundation, are looking at mass producing fish to feed on mosquitoes.

Fish called Nothobranchius guentheri hatch when the rainy season begins and eat mosquito larvae, which could have a negative effect on mosquito numbers and therefore boost the battle against malaria.

Shandala Msangi, the lead researcher at TPRI, told SciDev.net: "Once established in a particular depression, the fish will continue to come back year after year to feed on the mosquito larvae.

"This initiative to explore native annual fish populations as natural predators is part of [a] trend to explore indigenous technologies and resources."

It is possible for the fish embryos to thrive in tiny pools of water, such as those made by an elephant's feet.

TPRI is calling for more assistance in order to make its study more complete and look at rolling out a long-term programme.

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