Some methods for membrane feeding of laboratory reared, neotropical sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae)

Abstract

A brief introduction to the history and applications of membrane feeding is given, together with its use to feed and infect sandflies with Leishmania. The present paper describes methods for feeding Lutzomyia longipalpis and Lu.flaviscutellata through membranes. Of the membranes tested, chick skins and bat wings gave the best results. Membranes stored at -20°C for over a year were found to be less effective than fresh ones. Blood meals were maintained at temperatures between 24°C and 37°C and it is concluded that although temperatures as high as 37°C are unnecessary for successful membrane feeding of sandflies, fewer flies feed in most instances at temperatures below 27°C. The influence on feeding of individual skins, different lots of blood and the addition of leishmanial cultures to offered blood are discussed. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. We are grateful to Srta's C. Loureiro, C. Nascimento, S. Silva and Sr. J. Almeida for laboratory assistance with the sandfly colonies, and to Sr. R. Naiff and Srta. M. Farias for maintaining the Leishmania cultures. Mr. J. Turner, glass blower ofthe London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine kindly prepared the two multiplefeeders. The work was carried out under the auspices of the Wellcome Trust, London, and the Instituto Evandro Chagas of the Fundação Serviços de Saúde Pública of Brazil.