Public Health Importance

CYCLOPS

PUBLIC HEALTH IMPORTANCE  IT IS A INTERMEDIATE HOST OF GUINEA WORM

DISEASE  MAN ACQUIRES INFESTATION BY DRINKING

WATER CONTAINING INFECTED CYCLOPS.  6 SPECIES OF CYCLOPIDAE ACT AS

INTERMEDIATE HOSTS IN INDIA.

 ALSO CALLED WATER FLEA IS A CRUSTACEAN

PRESENT IN FRESH WATER  PEAR SHAPED SEMI TRANSPARENT BODY,

FORKED TAIL,2 PAIRS OF ANTENNAE,5 PAIRS OF LEGS AND A PIGMENTED SMALL EYE.  AVG LIFE SPAN IS 3 MONTHS.

CONTROL  PHYSICAL :-

a) Straining :- of water through a piece of fine cloth is enough to filter cyclops. b) Boiling :- at 60 degrees readily kills cyclops.

 CHEMICAL :-

a) Chlorine :- destroys cyclops and larvae of guinea worm in a strength of 5ppm. b) Lime :- dose of 4gm/gallon of water is very effective. c) Abate :- is a organophosphorus insecticide. Effective in a dose of 1mg/litre of water.

BIOLOGICAL : Certain kinds of small fish Eg barbel fish, gambusia fish feed on cyclops  Most permanent method of controlling cyclops

in drinking water is to provide piped water supply or tube wells.