The Effects of the SSRI Paroxetine on Feeding Rates of the Larval Mosquito Aedes aegypti

Abstract

Paroxetine is an antidepressant drug that is found in aquatic habitats. It is a serotonin specific reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that increases the amount of serotonin in synapses, mimicking increased activity of serotonergic pathways. Studying the effects of the SSRI paroxetine in freshwater animals such as Aedes aegypti larvae (mosquito larva) may help us see what physical and behavioral impact the drug may have on these animals and how it may affect the ecosystem. The testing of feeding rates of mosquito larvae exposed to paroxetine was conducted because of the known influence of serotonin on appetite. In order to see the influence of serotonin on appetite Aedes aegypti were exposed to different concentrations of paroxetine (1x10-5, 1x10-6, and 1x10-7 mmol/L). The effect of paroxetine on feeding rates are expected to affect growth and development of mosquitoes, suggesting ways that paroxetine and other SSRIs in the environment will likely alter the ecosystem.