Preparing for the tiny predators: Community readiness and perceptions of copepod-based dengue control in eastern guatemala
- 1Heidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH), Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- 2Instituto de Investigaciones, Centro Universitario de Zacapa, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Guatemala, Guatemala
Abstract
Background: Dengue remains a persistent public health challenge in eastern Guatemala, particularly in communities where irregular water supply, domestic water storage, and limited sanitation infrastructure create favorable conditions for Aedes aegypti proliferation. As concerns increase about the sustainability of chemical vector control, biological approaches such as the use of predatory copepods are receiving renewed attention. However, successful implementation depends not only on biological efficacy, but also on community awareness, acceptance, and willingness to adopt unfamiliar control methods. Methodology/Principal Findings: We conducted a cross-sectional Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) survey among 346 adult household representatives in eight urban and rural communities in the departments of Zacapa and Chiquimula, Guatemala. The study assessed dengue-related knowledge, household prevention practices, perceived risk, and attitudes toward potential future copepod-based biological control. Most respondents correctly identified mosquitoes as the vector of dengue, but knowledge of breeding sites and preventive measures was less comprehensive and varied by educational level. Preventive practices were inconsistent: 37% of households reported taking no action to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, and only a minority reported using multiple prevention strategies. Although prior familiarity with copepods was limited, willingness to consider their use was high when linked to clear information, technical support, and assurances regarding water safety. Concerns focused primarily on the introduction of organisms into stored water and lack of knowledge about the method, particularly in urban communities. Conclusions/Significance: The findings indicate a substantial gap between basic dengue awareness and routine household prevention practices in eastern Guatemala. At the same time, the high conditional openness toward copepod-based control suggests that biological approaches may be socially acceptable if introduced through trusted local actors, transparent communication, and community engagement. These results support the further exploration of copepod-based interventions as a complementary, non-chemical vector control strategy. However, community acceptance should not be interpreted as evidence of effectiveness; rigorous field trials are needed to evaluate entomological impact, operational feasibility, safety, and sustainability under local environmental and household water-storage conditions. Author summary: Dengue fever continues to pose a major public health challenge in Guatemala, particularly in the eastern departments of Zacapa and Chiquimula, where household water storage and limited sanitation infrastructure create favorable breeding conditions for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. As resistance to chemical insecticides increases, there is growing interest in alternative and more sustainable mosquito control methods. One promising biological approach involves the use of tiny aquatic crustaceans called copepods, which prey on mosquito larvae in water containers.
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BibTeX
@article{louis2026preparing,
title = {{Preparing for the tiny predators: Community readiness and perceptions of copepod-based dengue control in eastern guatemala}},
author = {Valérie R. Louis and Carlos Alberto Montenegro-Quinoñez and Till Bärnighausen and Peter Dambach},
journal = {PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0014654},
url = {https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0014654},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Preparing for the tiny predators: Community readiness and perceptions of copepod-based dengue control in eastern guatemala
AU - Valérie R. Louis
AU - Carlos Alberto Montenegro-Quinoñez
AU - Till Bärnighausen
AU - Peter Dambach
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/03
JO - PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
DO - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0014654
UR - https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0014654
AB - Background: Dengue remains a persistent public health challenge in eastern Guatemala, particularly in communities where irregular water supply, domestic water storage, and limited sanitation infrastructure create favorable conditions for Aedes aegypti proliferation. As concerns increase about the sustainability of chemical vector control, biological approaches such as the use of predatory copepods are receiving renewed attention. However, successful implementation depends not only on biological efficacy, but also on community awareness, acceptance, and willingness to adopt unfamiliar control methods. Methodology/Principal Findings: We conducted a cross-sectional Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) survey among 346 adult household representatives in eight urban and rural communities in the departments of Zacapa and Chiquimula, Guatemala. The study assessed dengue-related knowledge, household prevention practices, perceived risk, and attitudes toward potential future copepod-based biological control. Most respondents correctly identified mosquitoes as the vector of dengue, but knowledge of breeding sites and preventive measures was less comprehensive and varied by educational level. Preventive practices were inconsistent: 37% of households reported taking no action to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, and only a minority reported using multiple prevention strategies. Although prior familiarity with copepods was limited, willingness to consider their use was high when linked to clear information, technical support, and assurances regarding water safety. Concerns focused primarily on the introduction of organisms into stored water and lack of knowledge about the method, particularly in urban communities. Conclusions/Significance: The findings indicate a substantial gap between basic dengue awareness and routine household prevention practices in eastern Guatemala. At the same time, the high conditional openness toward copepod-based control suggests that biological approaches may be socially acceptable if introduced through trusted local actors, transparent communication, and community engagement. These results support the further exploration of copepod-based interventions as a complementary, non-chemical vector control strategy. However, community acceptance should not be interpreted as evidence of effectiveness; rigorous field trials are needed to evaluate entomological impact, operational feasibility, safety, and sustainability under local environmental and household water-storage conditions. Author summary: Dengue fever continues to pose a major public health challenge in Guatemala, particularly in the eastern departments of Zacapa and Chiquimula, where household water storage and limited sanitation infrastructure create favorable breeding conditions for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. As resistance to chemical insecticides increases, there is growing interest in alternative and more sustainable mosquito control methods. One promising biological approach involves the use of tiny aquatic crustaceans called copepods, which prey on mosquito larvae in water containers.
SN - 1935-2735
ER -