Vector competence of Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) for Plasmodium gallinaceum

Abstract

This study was conducted to compare the Plasmodium gallinaceum infection between Rhode Island Red and Isa Babcock chickens and compare the vector competence of Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus. This study consisted of three experiments. For the first experiment, a group of 14–day old Rhode Island Red, 14–day old Isa Babcock and 7–day old Isa Babcock were divided into 4 subgroups. Group 1-3 were inoculated with 106, 104, and 102 infected RBCs and group 4 was served as a control group. The percentage of parasite was determined post inoculation (PI). For the second experiment, it was divided into15 experiments and each of which consisted of Ae. albopictus (>F10), Ae. aegypti (>F10), and Ae. aegypti (<F10). The mosquitoes were allowed to feed on infected chickens at different levels of parasitemia (1.1-79.5%) and gametocytemia (0.1-5.2%). The mosquitoes were dissected, counted for oocysts, and observed for the sporozoites. The third experiment was conducted as described in the second experiment but the gametocytemia were 1, 3.2, and 3.4 %. The infected mosquitoes were allowed to feed on naïve chickens and the parasite was monitored. The finding indicated that morbidity and mortality rates in Rhode Island Red were higher than other groups. The shortest prepatent period was 3 day PI which found in 7-day old Isa Babcock. Parasite could develop in all mosquito groups but the number of oocysts were differences. All mosquito groups could transmit the parasite but infection rates in the chicken was difference. The infection rates in Ae. albopictus (>F10) and Ae. aegypti (>F10) were 80-100 % and the infection rates in Ae. aegypti (<F10) were 40-60 %.