Tehran University Medical Journal (May 2007)
Sporogony cycle of plasmodium vivax in anopheles stephensi mysorensis: inhibitory effects of certain carbohydrates on parasitic development
Abstract
Background: Although there have been many studies on the role of mosquitoes in malarial transmission, the biology and interaction of plasmodium with its host is still not completely known. The aim of this study was primarily to follow the sporogony cycle of Plasmodium vivax in Anopheles stephensi mysorensis and then to explore the inhibitory effects of certain carbohydrates on parasitic development. Methods: In a restricted insectary, An. stephensi were fed blood containing gametocytes from donor malaria patients. The development of plasmodium was followed by dissecting the infected mosquitoes and taking a smear at different time intervals. Other groups of Anopheles were fed infected blood plus one of the following carbohydrates: N-acetyl-glucosamine, N-acetyl-galactosamine, arabinose, fucose, manose, lactose or galactose. Results: Exflagellation occurred at 5 minutes after the blood meal and then ookinet was observed at 20 hours, while oocysts and sporozoites appeared in days 8 to 12. The results indicate that An. stephensi strain mysorensis has can transfer P. vivax extremely well. Furthermore, the development of P. vivax was completed in the mosquitoes that had been fed with N-acetyl-glucosamine, arabinose, fucose and galactose. In contrast, lactose, mannose and N-acetyl-galactosamine interrupted the life cycle of the parasite. Conclusion: The sugars lactose, mannose and N-acetyl-galactosamine have an inhibitory role in of oocyst and sporozoite development. Therefore, the results of this study can be used as basic information for inhibiting malarial transmission.
