Comparative Analyses on Synthetic Membranes for Artificial Blood Feeding of Aedes aegypti using Digital Thermo Mosquito Blood Feeder (DITMOF)

Abstract

The use of live animal to blood feeding mosquito colony is proven to be expensive and inconvenient. As an alternative, artificial feeding (AF) is used to rear mosquito colony. The use of synthetic membrane in AF provided a more convenient method as compared to natural membrane which require extensive preparation. In this study, three synthetic membranes were compared (Parafilm-M, Polytetrafluoroethylene tape or PTFE tape and collagen sausage casing) to blood feeding Aedes aegypti. The membranes were incorporated with our in-house developed device named as Digital Thermo Mosquito Blood Feeder (DITMOF) to heat cattle blood for mosquito feeding. Results showed that PTFE tape recorded the highest blood feeding rate (95.00% ± 1.67%) with significant mean difference (p <0.001) as compared to both Parafilm-M (72.00% ± 2.60%) and collagen sausage casing (71.50% ± 3.50%). However, there was no difference in term of fecundity for mosquito feed with all three membranes tested (p=0.292). In conclusion, PTFE tape should be considered as the preferred membrane to blood feeding Ae. aegypti. Furthermore, this artificial blood feeding system, DITMOF successfully feed Ae. aegypti conveniently and effectively, thus should be further tested to feed other mosquito species.