LABORATORY STUDIES ON THE POSSIBILITY OF CULEX QUINQUEFASCIATUS TO HARBOR HEPATOZOON SP. INFECTING CERASTES CERASTES CERASTES VIPER IN EGYPT.

A successful experimental infection of Culex quinquefasciatus with Hepatozoon sp. infecting Cerastes cerastes cerastes viper was carried out under laboratory conditions of 24 +/- 3 degrees C and 60-70% R. H.

Laboratory studies on the possibility of Culex (Culex) pipiens l. to harbour and transmit Hepatozoon matruhensis to the Egyptian snake Psammophis schokari.

A successful experimental infection of Psammophis schokari snake with Hepatozoon matruhensis through Culex (Culex) pipiens bites was carried out under laboratory condition of 20 +/- 1 degrees C and 60-70 % R.H. The period monitored for gametocyte maturation ranged from 38 to 42 days while the recorded prepatent period ranged from 28 to 35 days.

Influence of amphibian and reptile on the feeding preference, longevity and reproductive capacity of Egyptian Culex (Culex) pipiens Linneaus (Diptera-Culicidae).

Using Bufo regularis and ten reptile species as hosts for Culex pipiens under laboratory conditions revealed a great effect on feeding preference as a significant long feeding periods together with a significant reduction in the blood meal ratios were recorded. Female mosquitoes offered the experimental animals showed a short life span with different significant levels. A recognizable reduction in the reproductive fitness of Cx.

Culex neavei Theobald, as a possible transmitter of Hepatozoon matruhensis to the Egyptian snake Psammophis schokari.

Stained smears of Culex neavei females infected with Hepattozoon matruhensis from Psammophis schokari and kept at 20 +/- 1 degrees C showed the complete developmental stages of the parasite. However, no detection of sporozoites was monitored when females were kept at 30 +/- 1 degrees C. A successful infection of P.