Correlation of survival rates of Anopheles dirus A (Diptera: Culicidae) with different infection densities of Plasmodium cynomolgi.

Abstract

The survival rates are described for 36 paired replicates of Anopheles dirus A mosquitos that had been allowed to engorge themselves on rhesus monkeys that were either infected or non-infected with Plasmodium cynomolgi. The survival rates of infected mosquitos with a mean number of oocysts less than 10 did not differ significantly from those that were non-infected; however, there was a significant difference in the survival rates of non-infected groups and those with a mean number of oocysts in the range 10-40, 41-70, or >/=71.Daily survival rates for non-infected and infected mosquitos did not differ significantly during the first 8 days of extrinsic incubation. In contrast, for the period 9-30 days the survival rates of mosquitos with mean number of oocysts >/=41 were significantly different from those of non-infected mosquitos. The cumulative daily survival rates of mosquitos with mean number of oocysts up to 40, 41-70, or >/=71 decreased with the oocyst count. Mosquitos with a mean number of oocysts >/=71 frequently exhibited excessive numbers of bacteria and deterioration of both their guts and salivary glands.