Laboratory studies on the possibility of culex quinquefasciatus to harbor Hepatozoon sp. infecting cerastes cerastes cerastes viper in Egypt

الملخص EN

A successful experimental infection of Culex quinquefasciatus with Hepatozoon sp.

infecting Cerastes cerastes cerastes viper was carried out under laboratory conditions of 24 ± 3 C and 60-70 % R.H..The period monitored for complete sporogonic cycle was 21 days.

The effect of high parasitimic blood meal was nonsignificant (P > 0.05) on preoviposition period and hatchability.

Meanwhile a highly significant reduction was observed in oviposition rate, number of deposited eggs, number of hatched larvae and longevity (P < 0.01).

On the contrary moderate infection with Hepatozoon revealed a great significant increase in fecundity (P < 0.01) and a nonsignificant decrease in longevity (P > 0.05).