Oral infection of Aedes polynesiensis by Wuchereria bancrofti by using parafilm membrane feeding

In order to construct a cDNA library from third-stage larvae (L3) of Wuchereria bancrofti var. pacifica, the Parafilm membrane feeding method is proposed for the oral infection of Aedes polynesiensis. Heparinized blood supplemented with 5.10(-3) M ATP was put in the feeder with carbon dioxide provided as additional phagostimulant. The results of this artificial infection feeding method were compared with those obtained when mosquitoes fed directly on the forearm of a microfilaremic patient. The number of females feeding through the artificial membrane was smaller than on the patient's forearm (32.1 vs. 84.8%). The mean number of L3s obtained per female was not statistically different between the 2 feeding methods; however, the total number of L3s obtained from 100 females allowed to feed in each group was twice as high in the natural feeding method.