PONE-D-23-05982Effects of bacterial composition and aquatic habitat metabolites on malaria vector larval availability in irrigated and non- irrigated sites of Homa Bay county, western KenyaPLOS ONE

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Reviewers' comments:

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously?

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: No

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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5. Review Comments to the Author

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Reviewer #1: I am pleased to review miss Pauline and others entitled "Effects of bacterial composition and aquatic habitat metabolites on malaria vector larval availability in irrigated and non-irrigated sites of Homa Bay county, western Kenya". This manuscript has taken in the moment when larval source management has become the core intervention by WHO to answer some questions about habitats in irrigation and non-irrigation(rain-fed areas). This paper has been written in inteligently manner and all sections have been connected;

I propose the paper to be ACCEPTED AFTER THE MINOR REVISION i HAVE MADE IN THE ATTACHED MS.

1. The citation should be changed to square brackets

2. take care of my inputs in two parts in the attached document.

3. Check the reference list to be clear to the journal format.

If these three are done, kindly accept the manuscript.

Reviewer #2: Focus of the study: Overall, the bacterial composition and aquatic habitat metabolites can have complex and varied effects on the availability of malaria vector larvae in both irrigated and non-irrigated sites. Understanding these factors is important for developing effective strategies to control the spread of malaria. However, I have few major observations that should be clarified

1. Is the bacterial composition and aquatic habitat metabolites in the aquatic habitats affected by seasonality?

2. Did you assess other factors such as aquatic predators?

3. In the irrigation and non-irrigation, what was the major crop? Did you recorded any use of pesticides? That could have impacts to mosquito larvae and water quality?

4. Sample collection: The water samples were pooled into 12 bottle sets and used for microbial analysis. Why 12 bottles? What was the time interval between sample collection and analysis? Was there any preservatives added in water samples?

5. Major observation: The article focus mainly on water sample analysis, the author need to explain how the mosquito larvae were collected, identified, which keys and how were they correlated with bacterial composition and aquatic habitat metabolites

6. My suggestion would be add a section describing how mosquito larvae were collected and processed as well. The analysis section should also show how was the analysis of mosquitoes done and how each factor observed influenced abundance/presence of mosquito larvae

7. Map of study area showing irrigated and non-irrigated sites?

8. Analysis section should show how these metabolites affect abundance of mosquito larvae

9. Conclusion: “In addition, high fatty acid concentration may have an impact on larval production in both irrigated and non-irrigated areas whereas chlorophyll, sugar, and manganese promoted growth” How did you come up with this conclusion? Please refer to the comment No. 8 above. These should be analysis to assess how this affect larval abundance. Off course a GLMM approach can be used to count for random and fixed variables

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Reviewer #1: Yes: Prof. Eliningaya Kweka

Reviewer #2: No

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Attachments

Attachment

Submitted filename: MS- for inputs.doc

Effects of bacterial composition and aquatic habitat metabolites on malaria vector larval availability in irrigated and non-irrigated sites of Homa Bay county, western Kenya

PONE-D-23-05982R1

Dear Dr. Orondo,

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

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Kind regards,

Guadalupe Virginia Nevárez-Moorillón, Ph.D.

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

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