AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY ON THE DETECTION OF FRUCTOSE IN AEDES-AEGYPTI

Male and female Aedes aegypti fed a 10% sucrose solution and/or blood were tested to determine the duration of fructose detection in their b odies and the volume of sugar solution they ingested. The limit of det ection of fructose by the cold anthrone test was investigated in a ser ies of experiments. Results were applied to the interpretation of suga r feeding by Ae. aegypti collected inside houses in Puerto Rico during times of low (cool season) and high (hot season) dengue transmission in 1996. We conclude that, under our experimental conditions, the cold anthrone test can detect a 10% sucrose solution in male and female Ae . aegypti up to approximately 4 days after ingestion, even the smalles t volumes of 10% sucrose solution ingested by experimental mosquitoes are detectable, the test is sensitive enough to detect 0.6 mu g of fru ctose, and the cutoff point for defining positive fructose values in f ield-collected females should be based on blood-engorged specimens. We confirmed that female Ae. aegypti collected from natural resting site s inside houses in Puerto Rico seldom, compared to males, contain dete ctable amounts of fructose.