Laboratory studies on the possibility of Culex Quinquefasciatus to Harbor Hepatozoon SP. infecting cerastes cerastes cerastes viper in Egypt

A successful experimental infection of Culex quinquefasciatus with Hepatozoon sp. Infecting Cerastes cerastes cerastes viper was carried out under laboratory conditions of 24 +/- 3 C and 60-70% R.H..The period monitored for complete sporogonic cycle was 21 days. The effect of high parasitimic blood meal was nonsignificant [P>0.05] on preoviposition period and hatchability. Meanwhile a highly significant reduction was observed in oviposition rate, number of deposited eggs, number of hatched larvae and longevity [P<0.01]. On the contrary moderate infection with Hepatozoon revealed a great significant increase in fe- cundity [P<0.01] and a nonsignificant decrease in longevity [P>0.05]