Factors that affect Culex mosquito feeding choice in Atlanta, Georgia Público
Wu, Karen (2013)
Published
Abstract
Background
Since its introduction in 1999, West Nile Virus (WNV), a mosquito-borne zoonosis, has spread throughout the United States. Enzootic transmission occurs between female mosquitoes of the genus Culex, and various passerine birds. Humans, who are dead-end hosts, can become infected following the bite of an infected mosquito. Therefore, any factors that may affect mosquito host choice are likely to have an impact on the probability of WNV transmission to humans. A feeding shift from avian to mammalian species may contribute to the WNV transmission patterns in the eastern U.S. In addition, mosquito host choice is one of the key parameters of mathematical models that predict pathogen transmission.
MethodsA total of 86 blood fed mosquitoes were processed from Tanyard Creek and Peavine Creek in Atlanta, Georgia over 2010 and 2011. The mosquitoes were analyzed for blood meal sources using hemi-nested PCR protocols targeted at the 16S ribosomal gene. The samples were then sequenced in order to identify the host to the species level. Fisher's exact tests were performed on dichotomized variables such as creek, year, and season. Lastly, logistic regression was performed to identify any significant additional predictors that could yield information on mosquito host choice
ResultsThe Fisher's exact test suggested that the dichotomous variable creek was significantly associated with the number of blood meals that were avian or human in origin (p=0.0163, p=0.0231) while year was significantly associated with the number of human blood meals (p=0.0002). Results from a stepwise logistic regression suggested that creek was the only significant predictor associated with avian versus non-avian blood meals and year was the only predictor with significantly associated with feeding preference between human versus non-human blood meal sources (p<0.001). Month and season were not associated with host choice.
ConclusionThe significant association of creek and year with feeding preference is in agreement with the notion that Culex spp. are opportunistic feeders that can shift between blood meal sources based on availability, rather than being limited by season. This opportunistic nature is in agreement with the hypothesized role of Culex spp. as vectors for enzootic transmission and as bridge vectors to humans.
Table of Contents
Introduction Methods Field sampling Blood meal identification Data processing and analysis Results Mosquito collections, species, Sella scores Blood meal analysis Analytic statistics Discussion Future Directions Tables Figures and Graphs Appendix A: Laboratory protocols
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