Assessment of Synthetic Membranes for Artificial Blood Feeding of Culicidae.

Abstract

Simple SummaryThe maintenance of mosquito colonies in the laboratory requires a blood supply so that females can mature their oocytes and perform oviposition. Due to current bioethical parameters, the direct use of animals is being replaced by artificial blood feeding using equipment that requires the use of synthetic membranes to simulate animal skin. These membranes separate blood stored in a heated container from the external environment. The membranes need to be thin enough to allow for mosquitoes to feed, and strong enough that they do not easily break. In this study, the efficiency of collagen and latex in the artificial feeding of mosquitoes of the Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus species was evaluated and compared with Parafilm®, a standard membrane that is frequently used for this purpose. Important aspects of the feeding and reproduction of these insects were considered. Collagen was almost as efficient as Parafilm® was. Latex, on the other hand, negatively affected several of the analyzed aspects. We concluded that, although collagen is more resistant and easier to handle, Parafilm® is the most efficient among the three evaluated membranes for mosquito artificial blood feeding.Potential pathogen transmission through hematophagy in Culicidae is a major public-health problem, and several studies have been performed to better understand this phenomenon. Research on these insects often requires the maintenance of colonies in the laboratory. Due to the hematophagic habits of these organisms, blood must be provided in order to guarantee the reproduction of individuals that constitute the colonies. Some species of mammals and birds are used as a direct blood source in many laboratories. Due to current bioethical parameters, the direct use of animals has been replaced by artificial blood feeding by using synthetic membranes to simulate animal skin. In this study, the efficiency of collagen and latex in the artificial feeding of mosquitoes of the Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus species was evaluated and compared with Parafilm®, a standard membrane that is frequently used for this purpose. Important aspects of the feeding and reproduction of these insects were considered. For both species, latex showed the poorest performance. Collagen membrane performed well in most parameters, but was not as efficient as Parafilm® for fecundity in Aedes aegypti, and for the percentage of engorged females in Culex quinquefasciatus. We concluded that, although collagen is more resistant and easier to handle, Parafilm® was the most efficient among the three evaluated membranes for the artificial blood feeding of mosquitoes.