Effects of malaria infection in Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes on passage through a wide-mesh net

Abstract

The effects of Plasmodium infection upon the behaviour of vector mosquitoes were examined by the cage-test method. Anopheles stephensi parasitized with Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis had reduced ability to pass the wide-mesh net barrier. The reduction was particularly remarkable when there was no air-flow in the test cages. It is suspected that in some of these mosquitoes the receptor for chemicals from a blood source may malfunction under a windless condition.