Evans blue as a simple method to discriminate mosquitoes' feeding choice on small laboratory animals.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Temperature, humidity, vision, and particularly odor, are external cues that play essential roles to mosquito blood feeding and oviposition. Entomological and behavioral studies employ well-established methods to evaluate mosquito attraction or repellency and to identify the source of the blood meal. Despite the efficacy of such methods, the costs involved in the production or acquisition of all parts, components and the chemical reagents involved are unaffordable for most researchers from poor countries. Thus, a simple and relatively low-cost method capable of evaluating mosquito preferences and the blood volume ingested is desirable.

Principal findings

By using Evans blue (EB) vital dye and few standard laboratory supplies, we developed and validated a system ca

SUBMITTER: Maciel C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4204902 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature