Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Parasitology

The importance of mosquitoes in the transmission of serious parasitic diseases, such as filariasis and malaria, makes the understanding of dynamic changes related to the process of feeding of utmost importance in the planning of controlling these diseases. In our study, we have investigated various protein aspects in female culex pipiens mosquitoes that reflect enzymatic activity and immune status in response to several feeding assays. We focused on assessing the proteolytic activity by azocasein assay, in addition to the determination of the oxidative status in mosquitoes by the assessment of lipid peroxidation. Gimenez stain was also applied to detect the effect on certain endosymbiotic bacteria. Feeding assays employed included sugar and blood feeding, in addition to the administration of two antibiotics, namely ivermectin and doxycycline. Both were delivered to the tested mosquitoes either directly in the form of solutions, or indirectly by allowing the mosquitoes to feed on Wistar rats that had received these drugs. The effect of ivermectin on mortality was also tested on female Anopheles pharoensis mosquitoes. Significant impact was noticed on survival and immunity by ivermectin, while the effect of doxycycline was more directed towards the microbiota residing in the mosquitoes

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