title: Blood-Feeding Behaviors of Anopheles stephensi but not Phlebotomus papatasi are Influenced by Actively Warming Guinea Pigs (Cavia porcellus) Under General Anesthesia.
abstract: Animal models are often used to study hematophagous insect feeding behavior and evaluate products such as topical repellents. However, when these models are used the study animals often experience significant drops in core body temperature because of the effects of anesthesia. This study used a guinea pig model to investigate whether maintaining a normothermic core body temperature during anesthesia influenced the rate of Anopheles stephensi and Phlebotomus papatasi blood feeding. Experiments were conducted with anesthetized animals that had their body temperatures either maintained with a warming device or were allowed to drop naturally. Results showed that when guinea pigs were actively warmed by a heating device, An. stephensi feeding behavior was similar at the beginning and end of anesthesia. However, when a warming device was not used, fewer An. stephensi took a blood meal after the animals' temperatures had dropped. Phlebotomus papatasi were not as sensitive to changes in temperature and feeding rates were similar whether a warming device was used or not. These results are discussed and it is recommended that warming devices are used when conducting feeding experiments with insects sensitive to changes in host body temperature, such as An. stephensi.
authors.affiliation: 2  Veterinary Medicine, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 511 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
authors.forename: Jessica N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Buchta
authors.affiliation: 2  Veterinary Medicine, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 511 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
authors.forename: Bethany S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Zarndt
authors.affiliation: 3  Entomology Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910.
authors.forename: Lindsey S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Garver
authors.affiliation: 3  Entomology Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910.
authors.forename: Tobin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rowland
authors.affiliation: 4  Division of Medical, Audio, Visual, Library and Statistical Services, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: 3  Entomology Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910.
authors.forename: Silas A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.affiliation: 3  Entomology Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910.
authors.forename: Edgar D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Rowton
mesh_terms: D000768:Anesthesia, General; D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000502:physiology*; D001831:Body Temperature; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006358:Hot Temperature; D010691:Phlebotomus / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Anopheles stephensi; Phlebotomus papatasi; blood feeding; core body temperature; host seeking