Effect of apholate and metepa on Aedes aegypti infected with Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus.

Abstract

Abstract : Groups of Aedes aegypti female mosquitoes were fed 0.25 and 0.025% concentrations of apholate and metepa. Four days later they were fed a solution containing VEE virus and sweetened blood. Male mosquitoes were introduced also at this time. Treatment with the 0.25% concentrations of either sterilizing agent completely inhibited oviposition. Both the total number of eggs and the percentage of viable eggs in the groups treated with 0.025% concentrations were a fraction of those deposited by the untreated groups. Mortality in the treated vectors, especially those given the 0.25% concentrations, was higher than that in the untreated mosquitoes. The lower concentrations of sterilizing agents had no demonstrable effects on the susceptibility of the vectors to VEE virus or on subsequent transmission of the virus. Susceptibility to virus infection and the ability to transmit the disease were significantly influenced by the higher concentrations of both compounds. The results suggest that other mosquito vector-arbovirus combinations could demonstrate similar or increased potentials.