Effect of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine on the migration of Brugia pahangi microfilariae into the haemocoel of Aedes aegypti.
Two strains of Aedes aegypti (L.), differing in their susceptibility to Brugia pahangi (Buckley & Edeson), were examined with regard to the effect on the proportion of microfilariae migrating from the mid-gut, of specific carbohydrate supplements in the infecting bloodmeal. N-Acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc), a sugar also present on the microfilarial sheath, significantly increased the migration rate. This enhancement is greater for the refractory strain of Ae.aegypti. The use of sucrose as a control sugar results in no enhancement of microfilariae migration. It is postulated that the GlcNAc is acting by blocking endogenous gut/peritrophic membrane carbohydrate binding proteins, which would normally inhibit microfilariae migration. Furthermore, there is a significant correlation whereby increasing loads of microfilariae ingested result in decreasing proportions migrating across the mid-gut.
Ham
P J
PJ
Department of Medical Entomology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
Phiri
J S
JS
Nolan
G P
GP
D000117:Acetylglucosamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000330:Aedes / Q000469:parasitology*; D000818:Animals; D002009:Brugia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology*; D008842:Microfilariae / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D000117:Acetylglucosamine