Vector competence to Wuchereria bancrofti in Culex pipiens collected from the Nile Delta
Gad, A.M.; Shoukry, A.; el-Said, S.M.
Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology 18(1): 259-272
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 1110-0583 PMID: 3286788 Document Number: 311556
Culex pipiens, the main vector of human filariasis in Egypt, is widely distributed throughout the many villages in the Nile Delta. Since human filariasis varies in its endemicity between villages, susceptibility to local strains of Wuchereria bancrofti was determined for 4 different populations of Cx. pipiens collected from filarious and non filarious areas and for an autogenous strain reared in the laboratory. We found differences in efficiency ratios for acquiring W. bancrofti infection among the various populations tested. Culex pipiens from filarious area had higher efficiency ratios than Cx. pipiens obtained form non filarious areas. In addition, we found that gonotrophic cycle was prolonged in certain populations by infection with W. bancrofti. Survival was similar in Cx. pipiens infected and non infected mosquitoes when fed on human hosts circulating moderate levels of microfilariae. These results demonstrate variability between population of Cx. pipiens to acquire and maintain infection with W. bancrofti. This variability may explain in part the different endemicity levels of human filariasis found in villages throughout the Nile Delta.