THE MINAB DAM AND ITS POSSIBLE HAZARDS IN INCREASING MOSQUITO TRANSMITTED DISEASES

Abstract

A one year faunistic study was carried out in Minab area, starting January 1982, to investigate the possible hazards of the newly constructed Minab Dam in increasing the mosquito transmitted diseases. In view of this, a baseline data was gathered by sampling 4th instar mosquito larvae from different kinds of breeding sites, present in Minab area as well as the 4 districts surrounding it. In this program total of 4000 mosquito larvae, from 164 breeding sites, representing 17 species in 4 genera, were collected. Among these species, there were not only those which are of great nuisance due to their biting activity but as well as species which are of great medical and veterinary importance due to their ability to transmit pathogens. The presence of important malaria vector such as Anopheles stephensi, An. dthali, An.superpictus An. Fluviatilis in this area where malaria is still the major public health problem, is of great importance. Also presence of species such as Culex univittatus, Cx. bitaenior hynchus, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus and Aedes caspius can have great consequences due to their role in transmitting arboviriuses present in the area or those brought in by migrating birds, flying from Africa. As a result, any kind of change in species composition, population density, spatial distribution, and mosquito behavior taking place due to the construction and utilization of the Minab Dam can have a major health impact on the human population living in that area and only well planned studies, preferably started before utilization of the Dam, would prevent the possible health hazards associated with it.