[Histopathology of Anopheles gambiae s.l. Giles, 1902 (Diptera, Culicidae) subjected to the larvicidal activity of the aqueous extract of Persea americana Miller, 1768 (Lauraceae)].

Larvae of Anopheles gambiae treated with an aqueous extract of Persea americana suffer important damages of the midgut. The first epithelial cells to be affected are those at the posterior part of the midgut which become hypertrophic after only 30 min. After one hour most of the cells in this part lyse. The cytoplasmic material is then rejected towards the lumen gut, between the peritrophic membrane and the midgut epithelium. Subsequently, an almost total cell degeneration is observed. Cells of gastric caeca and cells at the intermediary and anterior parts of the midgut undergo the same histopathology, albeit after a longer period.