INFLUENCE OF ANESTHETICS ON THE PERIPHERAL-BLOOD MICROFILAREMIA OF BRUGIA-MALAYI IN THE MONGOLIAN JIRD, MERIONES-UNGUICULATUS

The effects of anesthetics on the peripheral blood microfilaremia of B rugia malayi in Meriones unguiculatus were investigated. Microfilaremi as were assessed by orbital puncture prior to and following the use, e ither individually or in tandem, of ether, Rompun(R), Ketaset(R), and sodium pentobarbital. Results indicate that the peripheral microfilare mia varied dramatically, depending on the anesthetic administered. Alt hough microfilaremias were not affected by an initial ether exposure, counts of microfilariae increased significantly when jirds received Ro mpun and Ketaset, or Ketaset alone. Administration of sodium pentobarb ital did not increase the number of microfilariae observed in the peri pheral blood. The mode of action differs between these drugs and is li kely responsible for the different effects observed. Consequently, stu dies involving vector-parasite interactions should take precautions to prevent parasite-induced vector mortality due to the ingestion of lar ge numbers of microfilariae induced in the peripheral bloodstream by c ertain anesthetics.