Effectiveness of Gambusia holbrooki fish in domestic water containers and controlling Aedes aegypti larvae (Linnaeus,1762) in southwest Saudi Arabia (Jeddah).

The objective of this study was to estimate the survival of gambusia holbrooki (cyprinodontiformes: poeciliidae) fishin domestic containers in jeddah,as well as its effectiveness in the control of immature a.aegypti. the use of g. holbrooki compared to bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (b.t.i.)was donein domestic containers. in a first home visit,g. holbrooki or b.t.i were applied to water containers. two follow-up visits were conducted after 3-4 & 5-6 months to assess the presence of viable fish in the containers and infestation by larvae. g. holbrooki fish were still present in 97.6% of containers 45-60 days after application. the infestation rate was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the b.t.i group (ir ratio=21.60,95% ci: 6.46-72.28). in deposits where the fish remained,efficacy was 85% better than b.t.i. the permanence of fish was higher in concrete tanks (48.5%) located outside the house (47.5%) and at ground level (53.3%).