ALTEX :: Alternatives to Animal Experiments

1996, Volume 3

The State of In Vitro Breeding of Lice and Fleas

Hans-Frieder Matthes1 and Theo Hiepe2

1Forschungszentrum für Medizintechnik und Biotechnologie e.V., D-Bad Langensalza; 2Institut für Parasitologie und Tropenveterinärmedizin, Freie Universität, D-Berlin

SUMMARY

Laboratory breeding of lice, fleas and other bloodsucking arthropods is necessary for developing and testing the efficacy of new drugs and alternative arthropod control methods. They are necessary to investigate their role as vectors of pathogens and to develop methods for diagnosis and therapy of arthropod caused or transmitted diseases. To date, it is not possible to replace rabbits as natural blood sources for breeding lice colonies (Pediculus spp.). But on the base of the knowledge about lice feeding and about in vitro-breeding of other arthropods it would be possible to develop an in vitro-feeding method for lice. For about three years an equipment is available in the USA for in vitro-breeding of cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis). Using this so called "Artificial dog" it would be possible to replace numerous of cats used as hosts of laboratory flea colonies in pharmaceutical companies and other research laboratories.

Keywords: in vitro-breeding, in vitro-feeding, membrane feeding, flea, Siphonaptera, Ctenocephalides spp., louse, Anoplura, Pediculus spp