Arum Siwiendrayanti, Sutrisno Anggoro, Nurjazuli Nurjazuli
Lymphatic filariasis in coastal regions is prone to transmission due to the environmental factors that enable the reproduction of Culex spp. Therefore, this study aims to examine the relationship between Culex spp. larval osmoregulation patterns with coastal ecosystem properties, and the impact on the larval density and control of vectors. Sampling was conducted in the field across different aquatic environments. Larval density was quantified, and environmental salinity was measured with a refractometer, while larval hemolymph and water osmolarity were analyzed using an automatic osmometer. The results showed that larvae demonstrated different osmoregulatory patterns, including iso-osmotic, iso-hyperosmotic, and iso-hypoosmotic. Significant differences in larval densities were observed among these patterns, with the highest density found in iso-hyperosmotic conditions (p=0.034), typically in low-salinity waters (0–1%). Field analysis also showed that areas affected by occasional tidal flooding had significantly higher larval densities compared to unaffected areas (p=0.008). Multivariate analysis indicated that larval iso-hyperosmotic conditions, occasional tidal flooding, and damaged mangrove collectively increased larval density (p<0.0001). Therefore, effective Culex spp. larvae control in coastal regions should focus on micro-hydrological management through the elimination of unintended puddles and habitat modification, such as mosquito ditching, to support the sustainability of lymphatic filariasis elimination. © 2026 Universitas Negeri Semarang. All rights reserved.
Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia; Graduate School, Diponegoro University, Indonesia; Faculty of Public Health, Diponegoro University, Indonesia
