REINTERPRETATION OF THE GENETICS OF SUSCEPTIBILITY OF AEDES-AEGYPTI TO PLASMODIUM-GALLINACEUM

Several studies have demonstrated a genetic basis for variation in sus ceptibility of Aedes aegypti to Plasmodium gallinaceum. Although 25 yr ago it was reported that P. gallinaceum susceptibility in Ae. aegypti is determined primarily by a single autosomal dominant gene, evidence for additional genetic factors has emerged. Two sublines, 1 refractor y and 1 of intermediate susceptibility to P. gallinaceum, have been se lected from the Moyo-In-Dry strain (MOYO) of Ae. aegypti. Prior to sel ection, the MOYO population was 20.3% refractory. Genetic crosses of t he highly susceptible Rockefeller strain (ROCK) and the 2 selected sub lines of the MOYO strain provide evidence for a complex mode of inheri tance of Plasmodium susceptibility in Ae. aegypti.