Effect of Dirofilaria Immitis (Nematoda: Filarioidea) Infection on Rate of Diuresis in Susceptible and Refractory Strains of Aedes Aegypti (Vero Beach) (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

The effect of Dirofilaria immitis (Leidy) infection on the rate of diuresis was investigated for infected and uninfected blood-fed females of highly susceptible and refractory strains of Aedes aegypti L. (Vero Beach). The pattern and course of diuresis were similar for both infected and uninfected females of both strains. Infection of Malpighian tubules reduced the rate of diuresis during the peak phase for infected females as compared to that for the corresponding uninfected females. There were no differences between strains as to the rate of diuresis in infected females. Infected susceptible females showed a strong negative linear correlation between the number of developing D. immitis and the total amount of fluid excreted during the 90-min observation period, whereas in infected refractory females there was no correlation between the presence of moribund prelarvae and the total amount of fluid excretion. These results suggested that the lower rate of diuresis in both infected susceptible and refractory females was related to damage caused by the developing first stage larvae and moribund prelarvae, respectively.