Artificial bloodfeeding of Anopheles sacharovi on a membrane apparatus

Anopheles sacharovi, the main human malaria vector in Turkey, has been maintained in our laboratory by feeding on anesthetized rabbits for about 20 years but it is a difficult species to colonize and bloodfeed. To eliminate the need for keeping and using live rabbits to supply blood meals, artificial bloodfeeding methods with suitable membrane apparatus were investigated. The feeding apparatus designed by the World Health Organization and 3 other types designed by us (for feeding on preserved human blood) were tested. Artificial membranes (latex and paraffin film) and locally produced and dried calf intestine were used. The calf intestine membrane gave the best feeding results and a modified apparatus designated type III was the most successful. This apparatus was preferable for the artificial feeding of An. sacharovi because it has a small reservoir, is easy to use, is adaptable to different feeding conditions, and supports reasonably high bloodfeeding rates 44.4-50.5% as compared to 35% on live rabbits.