scholarly journals Efficacy of Blood Sources and Artificial Blood Feeding Methods in Rearing of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) for Sterile Insect Technique and Incompatible Insect Technique Approaches in Sri Lanka

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nayana Gunathilaka ◽  
Tharaka Ranathunge ◽  
Lahiru Udayanga ◽  
Wimaladharma Abeyewickreme

Introduction. Selection of the artificial membrane feeding technique and blood meal source has been recognized as key considerations in mass rearing of vectors. Methodology. Artificial membrane feeding techniques, namely, glass plate, metal plate, and Hemotek membrane feeding method, and three blood sources (human, cattle, and chicken) were evaluated based on feeding rates, fecundity, and hatching rates of Aedes aegypti. Significance in the variations among blood feeding was investigated by one-way ANOVA, cluster analysis of variance (ANOSIM), and principal coordinates (PCO) analysis. Results. Feeding rates of Ae. aegypti significantly differed among the membrane feeding techniques as suggested by one-way ANOVA (p<0.05). The metal plate method was identified as the most efficient and cost-effective feeding technique. Blood feeding rate of Ae. aegypti was higher with human blood followed by cattle and chicken blood, respectively. However, no significant difference was observed from the mosquitoes fed with cattle and human blood, in terms of fecundity, oviposition rate, and fertility as suggested by one-way ANOVA (p>0.05). Conclusions. Metal plate method could be recommended as the most effective membrane feeding technique for mass rearing of Ae. aegypti, due to its high feeding rate and cost effectiveness. Cattle blood could be recommended for mass rearing Ae. aegypti.

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasue Morimoto ◽  
Hitoshi Kawada ◽  
Kan-ya Kuramoto ◽  
Takuya Mitsuhashi ◽  
Toshinobu Saitoh ◽  
...  

Abstract Background With the increasing threat of the worldwide spread of mosquito-borne infectious diseases, consumer interest in anti-mosquito textiles that protect against mosquito bites is also increasing. Accordingly, repellent- or insecticide-treated textiles are gaining popularity. The standardization of commercial textile products is, therefore, indispensable for an authentic and objective evaluation of these products. Here we report a textile testing method using an artificial blood-feeding system that does not involve human volunteers or live animals, which aligns with the policy of protecting human and animal welfare. Methods The attractive blood-feeding device (ABFD) was designed using the Hemotek® membrane feeding system. The repellency of DEET, icaridin and permethrin was assayed using unfed female adults of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) under two different test conditions, namely choice and no-choice tests. The choice test consisted of two feeding units, one chemically treated and untreated, that were installed on the ABFD; mosquitoes attracted to and resting on the feeding units were counted and the overall blood-feeding rates recorded. The no-choice test consisted of two feeding units treated with the same chemical that were installed on the ABFD; mosquitoes attracted to and resting on the feeding units were counted and the blood-feeding rates were recorded. A control test was conducted using two feeding units, both sides of which were untreated. Results In the choice test, high repellency (> 95% inhibition of resting on the treated surface) of 1% DEET and 2% icaridin was observed, whereas 2% permethrin was not an effective repellent. Also, high blood-feeding inhibition (> 95%) was observed for 2% DEET and 2% icaridin. In the no-choice test, high repellency was observed for 1% DEET and 2% icaridin, whereas the repellency of 2% permethrin was low. Also, high blood-feeding inhibition was observed for 2% DEET, 4% icaridin and 2% permethrin. Conclusions The accuracy and reproducibility of the developed method demonstrate that the ABFD may be widely used for fundamental experiments in the field of mosquito physiology, for the development of new repellent chemicals and in evaluation studies of mosquito repellent products, such as anti-mosquito textiles. The further development of the membrane and feeding unit systems will enable a more practical evaluation of mosquito repellents and blood-feeding inhibitors, such as pyrethroids.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Perran A. Ross ◽  
Meng-Jia Lau ◽  
Ary A. Hoffmann

AbstractModifiedAedes aegyptimosquitoes are being mass-reared for release in disease control programs around the world. Releases involving female mosquitoes rely on them being able to seek and feed on human hosts. To facilitate the mass-production of mosquitoes for releases, females are often provided blood through artificial membrane feeders. When reared across generations there is a risk that mosquitoes will adapt to feeding on membranes and lose their ability to feed on human hosts. To test adaptation to membrane feeding, we selected replicate populations ofAe. aegyptifor feeding on either human arms or membrane feeders for at least 8 generations. Membrane-selected populations suffered fitness costs, likely due to inbreeding depression arising from bottlenecks. Membrane-selected females had higher feeding rates on membranes than human-selected ones, suggesting adaptation to membrane feeding, but they maintained their attraction to host cues and feeding ability on humans despite a lack of selection for these traits. Host-seeking ability in small laboratory cages did not differ between populations selected on the two blood sources, but membrane-selected females were compromised in a semi-field enclosure where host-seeking was tested over a longer distance. Our findings suggest thatAe. aegyptimay adapt to feeding on blood provided artificially, but this will not substantially compromise field performance or affect experimental assessments of mosquito fitness. However, large population sizes during mass rearing with membrane feeders should be maintained to avoid bottlenecks which lead to inbreeding depression.Author summaryWith modified mosquitoes being mass-reared for release in disease control programs, there is interest in understanding factors that can affect the quality of release stocks. In the laboratory, membrane feeding devices are often used to provide blood to female mosquitoes which they need to lay eggs. Over time, mosquitoes could adapt to membrane feeding and lose their preference for (or ability to feed on) natural hosts. Adaptation could affect the performance of lab-reared mosquitoes when deployed in the field, especially if the success of disease control programs relies on female reproduction such as in gene drive orWolbachia-based approaches. We tested to see ifAedes aegyptimosquitoes, the principal vectors of dengue virus, would adapt to feeding on blood provided via membranes. We found some evidence of adaptation, with membrane-selected mosquitoes having higher feeding rates on membranes, but this didn’t affect their ability to feed on humans or their attraction to host cues. Although membrane feeding alone does not substantially affect mosquito quality, it can lead to inbreeding depression if populations pass through bottlenecks as they adapt to feeding on blood provided artificially. Our results may inform mass-rearing programs involving the release of modified female mosquitoes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lincoln Timinao ◽  
Rebecca Vinit ◽  
Michelle Katusele ◽  
Louis Schofield ◽  
Thomas R. Burkot ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Direct membrane feeding assays (DMFA) are an important tool to study parasite transmission to mosquitoes. Mosquito feeding rates in these artificial systems require optimization, as there are a number of factors that potentially influence the feeding rates and there are no standardized methods that apply to all anopheline species. Methods A range of parameters prior to and during direct membrane feeding (DMF) were evaluated for their impact on Anopheles farauti sensu stricto feeding rates, including the starving conditions and duration of starving prior to feeding, membrane type, DMF exposure time, mosquito age, feeding in the light versus the dark, blood volume, mosquito density and temperature of water bath. Results The average successful DMFA feeding rate for An. farauti s.s. colony mosquitoes increased from 50 to 85% when assay parameters were varied. Overnight starvation and Baudruche membrane yielded the highest feeding rates but rates were also affected by blood volume in the feeder and the mosquito density in the feeding cups. Availability of water during the pre-feed starvation period did not significantly impact feeding rates, nor did the exposure duration to blood in membrane feeders, the age of mosquitoes (3, 5 and 7 days post-emergence), feeding in the light versus the dark, or the temperature (34 °C, 38 °C, 42 °C and 46 °C) of the water bath. Conclusion Optimal feeding conditions in An. farauti s.s. DMFA were to offer 50 female mosquitoes in a cup (with a total surface area of ~ 340 cm2 with 1 mosquito/6.8 cm2) that were starved overnight 350–500 µL of blood (collected in heparin-coated Vacutainer tubes) per feeder in feeders with a surface area ~ 5 cm2 (with a maximum capacity of 1.5 mL of blood) via a Baudruche membrane, for at least 10–20 min. Graphical Abstract


2005 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 333-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anuluck Junkum ◽  
Atchariya Jitpakdi ◽  
Narissara Jariyapan ◽  
Narumon Komalamisra ◽  
Pradya Somboon ◽  
...  

Four laboratory-raised colonies of two karyotypic forms of Anopheles aconitus, i.e., Form B (Chiang Mai and Phet Buri strains) and C (Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son strains), were experimentally infected with Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax using an artificial membrane feeding technique and dissected eight and 12 days after feeding for oocyst and sporozoite rates, respectively. The results revealed that An. aconitus Form B and C were susceptible to P. falciparum and P. vivax, i.e., Form B (Chiang Mai and Phet Buri strains/P. falciparum and P. vivax) and Form C (Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son strains/P. vivax). Comparative statistical analyses of the oocyst rates, average number of oocysts per infected midgut and sporozoite rates among all strains of An. aconitus Form B and C to the ingroup control vectors, An. minimus A and C, exhibited mostly no significant differences, confirming the high potential vector of the two Plasmodium species. The sporozoite-like crystals found in the median lobe of the salivary glands, which could be a misleading factor in the identification of true sporozoites in salivary glands were found in both An. aconitus Form B and C.


Parasitology ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 107 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Waladde ◽  
A. S. Young ◽  
S. A. Ochieng' ◽  
S. N. Mwaura ◽  
F. N. Mwakima

SummaryA technique is described for the efficient feeding of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus nymphae on cattle blood through an artificial membrane bearing tactile and olfactory stimuli. The effect of four anticoagulation methods on the feeding of nymphae was compared and heparinized blood was found to be the most efficacious, followed by defibrinated blood. Blood treated with acid citrate dextrose (ACD) or ethylenediamine tetraacetate (EDTA) inhibited nymphal feeding. Nymphae fed on heparinized and defibrinated blood obtained engorgement weights within the range of ticks fed on mammalian hosts and they subsequently moulted and fed normally as adults and produced viable eggs. Nymphae fed on membranes using either defibrinated or heparinized blood infected with Theileria parva piroplasms developed salivary gland infections as adult ticks and transmitted East Coast fever (ECF) to susceptible cattle. There were indications that T. parva-infected defibrinated blood was not as infective to the feeding nymphae as the infected heparinized blood. When T. parva-infected heparinized blood was used to feed nymphae through membranes in two experiments, it was found that the infections in the resultant adult ticks could be comparable to those of nymphae fed on donor cattle, but were usually lower. The membrane feeding technique will enable the study of factors affecting the tick and T. parva transmission without the complication of host/T. parva interactions and could be useful for both tick maintenance and Theileria parasite isolation and maintenance.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lincoln Timinao ◽  
Rebecca Vinit ◽  
Michelle Katusele ◽  
Thomas R Burkot ◽  
Louis Schofield ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Direct membrane feeding assays (DMFA) are an important tool to study parasite transmission to mosquitoes. Mosquito feeding rates in these artificial systems require optimization as there are a number of factors that potentially influence the feeding rates and there are no standardized methods that apply to all Anopheline species.Methods: A range of parameters prior to and during direct membrane feeding (DMF) were evaluated for their impact on Anopheles farauti feeding rates; including the starving conditions and duration of starving prior to feeding, membrane type, DMF exposure time, mosquito age, illumination level, blood volume, mosquito density and temperature of water bath. Results: The average successful DMFA feeding rate for An. farauti colony mosquitoes increased from 50 % to 85 % when assay parameters were varied. Overnight starvation and Baudruche membrane yielded the highest feeding rates but rates were also affected by blood volume in the feeder and the mosquito density in the feeding cups. Availability of water during the pre-feed starvation period did not significantly impact feeding rates, nor did the exposure duration to blood in membrane feeders nor, the age of mosquitoes (3, 5 and 7 days post-emergence), illumination during feeding or the temperature (34 °C, 38 °C, 42 °C and 46 °C) of the water bath.Conclusion: Optimal feeding conditions in An. farauti DMFA were to offer 50 female mosquitoes in a cup (with a total surface area of ~340 cm2 with 1 mosquito / 6.8 cm2) that were starved overnight 350-500 µL of blood (collected in heparin coated vacutainers) per feeder in feeders with a surface area ~5 cm2 (with a maximum capacity of 1.5 mL of blood) via a Baudruche membrane, for at least 10-20 min.


1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (12) ◽  
pp. 2244-2247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erwin Huebner ◽  
Rene Harrison ◽  
Karen Yeow

We report a method for artificially feeding the reduviid insect Rhodnius prolixus that utilizes heparinized rabbit blood enclosed in an artificial-membrane envelope. Envelopes of Parafilm M® or Nescofilm® are made by heat sealing two pieces, one of which is stretched first, on three sides. Blood is then put into the envelope, the air expelled, and the fourth side sealed with a bag sealer. The blood-filled envelopes are then placed on a standard slide warmer set at 37 °C and insects in jars with wire-mesh tops are allowed to feed. Normal gorging and subsequent molting of instars were attained. Adult females show normal fecundity (the E value was 0.19 for mated females) and egg hatchability was also normal. The method is simple, cost effective, and easy to implement. It is especially suited for experimental feedings.


1984 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 870-877 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Ham ◽  
A. E. Bianco

With the use of circulating water systems to rear larvae, Simulium erythrocephalum and S. lineatum have been continuously maintained through to the F7 and F3 generations, respectively. Insemination rates of 100% were obtained for both species by the F2 generation. Using chick skin membranes and bovine blood, mean blood-feeding rates of 56 and 87% were achieved for S. lineatum and S. erythrocephalum, respectively. Mean egg production and egg fertility rates increased after the parental generation was produced. Mating trials were peformed to assess conditions for optimum insemination rates. A significant correlation between temperature and complete generation development period was observed.


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