A STUDY OF POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS BY A VECTOR, Aedes aegypti: A TRIAL ON RABBIT

Ginsau, M. A and Ahmed, U.A²

Department of Science Laboratory Technology, School of Science and Technology, Jigawa State Polytechnic, Dutse, Nigeria

² Departments of Biological Science, Sule Lamido University, Kafin Hausa, Jigawa State, Nigeria

Email: ginsau75@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Aedes aegypti were artificially fed with Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) positive blood samples of humans and were allowed to bite rabbits. The rabbits presented signs of infection: geophagy, loss of appetite, thinning, loss of fur and inflammation of liver. This study provides an evidence for transmission of HBV through mosquito. This study is limited to transmission to rabbits, a study of transmission to human is recommended.

Keywords: Aedes aegypti, Hepatitis B, Transmission, Virus, Vector