ultrastructure of the foregut and its influence on bancroftian microfilariae ingestion in three Egyptian mosquito species

ABSTRACT

Laboratory observation on the uptake of bancroftian microfilaria [mf.] by 3 Egyptian mosquito species revealed that microfilaria ingested by some tested species were badly damaged during ingestion. The foregut structures in Culex pipiens, Aedes caspius and Anopheles multicolor were investigated by light and scanning microscope techniques. In Ae. caspius, which has well developed pharyngeal armatures, and An. multicolor, which has well developed cibarial armature, high proportion of microfilaria was scored and damaged. Vice versa, Cx. pipiens, considered as the main vector of bancroftian filariasis, had neither developed pharyngeal nor cibarial pumps, the percentage of damaged mf was very small. The relationship between the injury of mf in mosquito midgut and the presence of the foregut armatures was discussed