A highly stable blood meal alternative for rearing Aedes and Anopheles mosquitoes.

• Published in: PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
• Main Authors: Ted Baughman, Chelsea Peterson, Corrie Ortega, Sarah R Preston, Christopher Paton, Jessica Williams, Amy Guy, Gavin Omodei, Brian Johnson, Helen Williams, Scott L O'Neill, Scott A Ritchie, Stephen L Dobson, Damian Madan
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2017
• Subjects: Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006142; https://doaj.org/article/0297e769c8134314ae1e76f653fc4f46

We investigated alternatives to whole blood for blood feeding of mosquitoes with a focus on improved stability and compatibility with mass rearing programs. In contrast to whole blood, an artificial blood diet of ATP-supplemented plasma was effective in maintaining mosquito populations and was compatible with storage for extended periods refrigerated, frozen, and as a lyophilized powder. The plasma ATP diet supported rearing of both Anopheles and Aedes mosquitoes. It was also effective in rearing Wolbachia-infected Aedes mosquitoes, suggesting compatibility with vector control efforts.