Culex pipiens pipiens and Aedes aegypti: Whole body extracts and development of Plasmodium gallinaceum in Aedes aegypti

Abstract

The effects of various concentrations of extracts of susceptible and refractory mosquitoes on the development of exogenous stages of Plasmodium gallinaceum were evaluated by counting and averaging the number of oocysts developing on the midguts of infected Aedes aegypti which were maintained on diets of 12, 25, 50 and 75% extracts of refractory Culex pipiens pipiens and of susceptible Aedes aegypti. Oocyst numbers were reduced in A. aegypti maintained on diets of extracts of both the refractory C. p. pipiens and the susceptible A. aegypti. Oocyst counts were reduced in proportion to the extract concentration and greater effect was shown when the diet was begun 3 days prior to infection. Concentrations of 12% extract of C. p. pipiens reduced the number of oocysts by 50% while concentrations of 75% reduced the number to only 34% of the number in the controls. Extract from A. aegypti was only about one-half as effective in reducing oocyst development as that from C. p. pipiens. The 12% C. p. pipiens extract was about equal to 75% extract of A. aegypti in reductive effect.