Cyclops is
intermediate host of
dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease) and fish tapeworm (
Diphyllobothrium latum) infection. This disease can be passed to humans through drinking infected water.
Dracunculiasis will rarely cause death but is a weakening disease.
Control methods Cyclops can be controlled using physical, chemical, biological and engineering methods.
Physical Straining of water through piece of fine cloth is sufficient to remove
Cyclops. It can also be killed by boiling water, as it is easily killed by heat at 60 °C.
Chemical Chlorine in strength of 22 ppm destroys
Cyclops in 2 hours; although this concentration of chlorine gives bad odour and taste to water. Excess chlorine can be removed with
sodium thiosulfate.
Biological Small fish, like
barbel and
Gambusia, feed on
Cyclops. This type of predation was used in the
South Indian state of
Karnataka to eradicate
dracunculiasis. Additionally,
Cyclops is widely sold in frozen packages at pet shops and fish stores as a supplemental fish food.
Engineering Provision of drinking water through
piping water supply, use of
tubewells and abolition of
stepwells are effective measures on community level. ==Species==