Variability among Tunisian populations of Culex pipiens: genetic structure and susceptibility to a filarial parasite, Brugia pahangi.

Ghazi Krida (1) , Ali Bouattour (1) , Francois Rodhain (2) , Anna-Bella Failloux (2)

1 Laboratoire d'Entomologie Médicale [Tunis, Tunisie]
2 Ecologie des Systèmes Vectoriels

Culex pipiens pipiens is a common mosquito found in North Africa and is the primary vector of Bancroftian filariasis in Egypt. Experimental infections with C. p. pipiens have demonstrated that this species supports Brugia pahangi development (parasitic yield 6.3%). In addition, the genetic variation among C. p. pipiens populations from Ben Arrous (in the suburb of Tunis) estimated from isoenzyme polymorphism of five neutral genes (Pgm, Gpi, Hk1, Got-1, and Got-2) was slight (Fst = +0.083). C. p. pipiens from Tunis seems to consist of a homogeneous population that is susceptible to Brugia infection.

Keywords: Genetic Variation; Genetic Structure; Experimental Infection; Homogeneous Population; Filariasis

Domains: Life Sciences [q-bio]; Microbiology and Parasitology; Virology

Ghazi Krida, Ali Bouattour, Francois Rodhain, Anna-Bella Failloux. Variability among Tunisian populations of Culex pipiens: genetic structure and susceptibility to a filarial parasite, Brugia pahangi.. Parasitology Research, 1997, 84 (2), pp.139-42. ⟨10.1007/s004360050371⟩. ⟨pasteur-01715913⟩