title: Native Larvivorous Fish in an Endemic Malarious Area of Southern Iran, a Biological Alternative Factor for Chemical Larvicides in Malaria Control Program.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The widespread use of chemical insecticides, resistance in vectors and environmental problems, all have led to an increased interest in the use of biological agents in malaria control programs. The most important functional elements are the native fish. The aim of this study was to identify the native species of lavivorous fish in Rudan County, southern Iran, to introduce an effective species and to propose its' implementation in the national malaria control program.
  
  
  METHODS
  This ecologically descriptive study was conducted during 2011-2012 using random sampling from different fish habitats of Rudan County. The shoals of fish were caught using fishing net. Fish samples were then identified in the Ichthyology lab, Department of Fisheries and the Environment, Hormozgan University.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three species of larvivorous fish were identified as follows: Gambusia holbrooki, Aphaniusdispar dispar and Aphanius sp. The latter species has the most distribution in the study area and needs more morphological and molecular studies for identification at the species level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Two species of native fish, i.e., A. dispar and A. sp. with larvivorous potential live in the area. Further studies on their predatory property are recommended in order to apply this local potential against malaria vectors in the area.
authors.affiliation: Infectious & Tropical Diseases Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shahi
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Marine Biology, Hormozgan University, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Ehsan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kamrani
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Diseases Control, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehrdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salehi
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Diseases Control, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Habibi
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Medical Entomology & Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad Ali
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Hanafi-Bojd
keywords: Aphanius; Biological control; Iran; Larvivorous fish; Malaria