BioOne.org will be down briefly for maintenance on 17 December 2024 between 18:00-22:00 Pacific Time US. We apologize for any inconvenience.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 June 2015 Blood-Feeding Behaviors of Anopheles stephensi but not Phlebotomus papatasi are Influenced by Actively Warming Guinea Pigs (Cavia porcellus) Under General Anesthesia
Jessica N. Buchta, Bethany S. Zarndt, Lindsey S. Garver, Tobin Rowland, Meng Shi, Silas A. Davidson, Edgar D. Rowton
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Animal models are often used to study hematophagous insect feeding behavior and evaluate products such as topical repellents. However, when these models are used the study animals often experience significant drops in core body temperature because of the effects of anesthesia. This study used a guinea pig model to investigate whether maintaining a normothermic core body temperature during anesthesia influenced the rate of Anopheles stephensi and Phlebotomus papatasi blood feeding. Experiments were conducted with anesthetized animals that had their body temperatures either maintained with a warming device or were allowed to drop naturally. Results showed that when guinea pigs were actively warmed by a heating device, An. stephensi feeding behavior was similar at the beginning and end of anesthesia. However, when a warming device was not used, fewer An. stephensi took a blood meal after the animals’ temperatures had dropped. Phlebotomus papatasi were not as sensitive to changes in temperature and feeding rates were similar whether a warming device was used or not. These results are discussed and it is recommended that warming devices are used when conducting feeding experiments with insects sensitive to changes in host body temperature, such as An. stephensi.

Copyright © 2015 by The American Mosquito Control Association, Inc.
Jessica N. Buchta, Bethany S. Zarndt, Lindsey S. Garver, Tobin Rowland, Meng Shi, Silas A. Davidson, and Edgar D. Rowton "Blood-Feeding Behaviors of Anopheles stephensi but not Phlebotomus papatasi are Influenced by Actively Warming Guinea Pigs (Cavia porcellus) Under General Anesthesia," Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association 31(2), 149-154, (1 June 2015). https://doi.org/10.2987/14-6467
Published: 1 June 2015
JOURNAL ARTICLE
6 PAGES

This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
+ SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

KEYWORDS
Anopheles stephensi
blood feeding
core body temperature
host seeking
Phlebotomus papatasi
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top