scholarly journals Blood meal analysis of Anopheles vectors of simian malaria based on laboratory and field studies

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nantha Kumar Jeyaprakasam ◽  
Van Lun Low ◽  
Jonathan Wee Kent Liew ◽  
Sandthya Pramasivan ◽  
Wan-Yusoff Wan-Sulaiman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Behavior ◽  
Blood Meal ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Peninsular Malaysia ◽  
Human Landing Catch ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Blood Meal Analysis ◽  
Host Seeking ◽  
Human Landing

AbstractBlood feeding and host-seeking behaviors of a mosquito play an imperative role in determining its vectorial capacity in transmitting pathogens. Unfortunately, limited information is available regarding blood feeding behavior of Anopheles species in Malaysia. Collection of resting Anopheles mosquitoes for blood meal analysis poses a great challenge especially for forest dwelling mosquitoes. Therefore, a laboratory-based study was conducted to evaluate the potential use of mosquitoes caught using human landing catch (HLC) for blood meal analysis, and subsequently to document blood feeding behavior of local Anopheles mosquitoes in Peninsular Malaysia. The laboratory-based experiment from this study revealed that mosquitoes caught using HLC had the potential to be used for blood meal analysis. Besides HLC, mosquitoes were also collected using manual aspirator and Mosquito Magnet. Overall, 47.4% of 321 field-caught Anopheles mosquitoes belonging to six species were positive for vertebrate host DNA in their blood meal. The most frequent blood meal source was human (45.9%) followed by wild boar (27.4%), dog (15.3%) and monkey (7.5%). Interestingly, only Anopheles cracens and Anopheles introlatus (Leucosphyrus Group) fed on monkey. This study further confirmed that members of the Leucosphyrus Group are the predominant vectors for knowlesi malaria transmission in Peninsular Malaysia mainly due to their simio-anthropophagic feeding behavior.

scholarly journals A synergistic transcriptional regulation of olfactory genes derives complex behavioral responses in the mosquito Anopheles culicifacies

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanwee Das De ◽  
Tina Thomas ◽  
Sonia Verma ◽  
Deepak Singla ◽  
Charu Rawal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adult Female ◽  
Blood Meal ◽  
Olfactory System ◽  
Transcriptional Profiling ◽  
Behavioral Responses ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Female Mosquito ◽  
Anopheles Culicifacies ◽  
Host Seeking ◽  
Adult Female Mosquito

AbstractDecoding the molecular basis of host seeking and blood feeding behavioral evolution/adaptation in the adult female mosquito may provide an opportunity to design new molecular strategy to disrupt human-mosquito interactions. However, despite the great progress in the field of mosquito olfaction and chemo-detection, little is known that how the sex-specific specialization of the olfactory system enables adult female mosquitoes to derive and manage complex blood feeding associated behavioral responses. A comprehensive RNAseq analysis of prior and post blood meal olfactory system of An. culicifacies mosquito revealed that a minor but unique change in the nature and regulation of key olfactory genes play a pivotal role in managing diverse behavioral responses. Age dependent transcriptional profiling demonstrated that adult female mosquito’s chemosensory system gradually learned and matured to drive the host-seeking and blood feeding behavior at the age of 5-6 days. A zeitgeber time scale expression analysis of Odorant Binding Proteins (OBPs) unravels unique association with a late evening to midnight peak biting time. Blood meal-induced switching of unique sets of OBP genes and Odorant Receptors (ORs) expression coincides with the change in the innate physiological status of the mosquitoes. Blood meal follows up experiments provide enough evidence that how a synergistic and concurrent action of OBPs-ORs may drive ‘prior and post blood meal’ complex behavioral events. Finally, tissue-specific gene expression analysis and molecular modelling predicted two uncharacterized novel sensory appendages proteins (SAP-1 & SAP2) unique to An. culicifacies mosquito and may play a central role in the host-seeking behavior.SignificanceEvolution and adaptation of blood feeding behavior not only favored the reproductive success of adult female mosquito but also make them an important disease vectors. Immediately after emergence, an environmental exposure may favor the broadly tuned olfactory system of mosquitoes to derive complex behavioral responses. But, how these olfactory derived genetic factors manage female specific ‘pre and post’ blood meal associated complex behavioral responses are not well known. We unraveled synergistic actions of olfactory factors governs an innate to prime learning strategy to facilitate rapid blood meal acquisition and downstream behavioral activities. A species-specific transcriptional profiling and an in-silico analysis predict novel ‘sensory appendages protein’, as a unique target to design disorientation strategy against the mosquito Anopheles culicifacies.

scholarly journals Development and evaluation of mosquito-electrocuting traps as alternatives to the human landing catch technique for sampling host-seeking malaria vectors

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Deodatus V. Maliti ◽  
Nicodem J. Govella ◽  
Gerry F. Killeen ◽  
Nosrat Mirzai ◽  
Paul C. D. Johnson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Malaria Vectors ◽  
Human Landing Catch ◽  
Host Seeking ◽  
Human Landing

scholarly journals Erratum to: Development and evaluation of mosquito-electrocuting traps as alternatives to the human landing catch technique for sampling host-seeking malaria vectors

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Deodatus V. Maliti ◽  
Nicodem J. Govella ◽  
Gerry F. Killeen ◽  
Nosrat Mirzai ◽  
Paul C. D. Johnson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Malaria Vectors ◽  
Human Landing Catch ◽  
Host Seeking ◽  
Human Landing

scholarly journals Novel small molecule agonists of an Aedes aegypti neuropeptide Y receptor block mosquito biting behavior

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura B. Duvall ◽  
Lavoisier Ramos-Espiritu ◽  
Kyrollos E. Barsoum ◽  
J. Fraser Glickman ◽  
Leslie B. Vosshall
Keyword(s):  
Aedes Aegypti ◽  
Neuropeptide Y ◽  
Small Molecule ◽  
Blood Meal ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Behavioral Suppression ◽  
Host Seeking ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Seeking Behavior

AbstractFemale Aedes aegypti mosquitoes bite humans to obtain a blood-meal to develop their eggs. Remarkably, strong attraction to humans is suppressed for several days after the blood-meal by an unknown mechanism. We investigated a role for neuropeptide Y (NPY)-related signaling in this long-term behavioral suppression, and discovered that drugs targeting human NPY receptors modulate mosquito host-seeking behavior. In a screen of all 49 predicted Ae. aegypti peptide receptors, we identified NPY-like receptor 7 (NPYLR7) as the sole target of these human drugs. To obtain small molecule agonists selective for NPYLR7, we carried out a high-throughput cell-based assay of 265,211 compounds, and isolated 6 highly selective NPYLR7 agonists that inhibit mosquito attraction to humans. NPYLR7 CRISPR-Cas9 null mutants are defective in behavioral suppression, and resistant to these drugs. Finally, we show that these drugs are capable of inhibiting biting and blood-feeding on a live host, suggesting a novel approach to control infectious disease transmission by controlling mosquito behavior.

scholarly journals Sugar feeding patterns of New York Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are affected by saturation deficit, flowers, and host seeking

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. e0008244
Author(s):  
Kara Fikrig ◽  
Sonile Peck ◽  
Peter Deckerman ◽  
Sharon Dang ◽  
Kimberly St Fleur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Feeding Behavior ◽  
Aedes Albopictus ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Feeding Patterns ◽  
Saturation Deficit ◽  
Sugar Feeding ◽  
Host Seeking ◽  
The Impact

Background Sugar feeding is an important behavior which may determine vector potential of female mosquitoes. Sugar meals can reduce blood feeding frequency, enhance survival, and decrease fecundity, as well as provide energetic reserves to fuel energy intensive behaviors such as mating and host seeking. Sugar feeding behavior can be harnessed for vector control (e.g. attractive toxic sugar baits). Few studies have addressed sugar feeding of Aedes albopictus, a vector of arboviruses of public health importance, including dengue and Zika viruses. To address this knowledge gap, we assessed sugar feeding patterns of Ae. albopictus for the first time in its invasive northeastern USA range. Methodology/Principal findings Using the cold anthrone fructose assay with robust sample sizes, we demonstrated that a large percentage of both male (49.6%) and female (41.8%) Ae. albopictus fed on plant or homopteran derived sugar sources within 24 hrs prior to capture. Our results suggest that sugar feeding behavior increases when environmental conditions are dry (high saturation deficit) and may vary by behavioral status (host seeking vs. resting). Furthermore, mosquitoes collected on properties with flowers (>3 blooms) had higher fructose concentrations compared to those collected from properties with few to no flowers (0–3). Conclusions/Significance Our results provide the first evidence of Ae. albopictus sugar feeding behavior in the Northeastern US and reveal relatively high rates of sugar feeding. These results suggest the potential success for regional deployment of toxic sugar baits. In addition, we demonstrate the impact of several environmental and mosquito parameters (saturation deficit, presence of flowers, host seeking status, and sex) on sugar feeding. Placing sugar feeding behavior in the context of these environmental and mosquito parameters provides further insight into spatiotemporal dynamics of feeding behavior for Ae. albopictus, and in turn, provides information for evidence-based control decisions.

Comparison between the human landing catch (HLC), an exposure-free mosquito-electrocuting trap (MET) and a BG-Sentinel trap (BGS) for evaluation of transfluthrin emanator against Aedes aegypti using choice and no-choice tests in a semi-field system

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mgeni Mohamed Tambwe ◽  
Adam Saddler ◽  
Ummi Abdul Kibondo ◽  
Rajabu Mashauri ◽  
Katharina S. Kreppel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aedes Aegypti ◽  
Protective Efficacy ◽  
Choice Test ◽  
Human Landing Catch ◽  
Host Seeking ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Choice Tests ◽  
Human Landing ◽  
Bg Sentinel ◽  
Collection Point

Abstract Background The human landing catch (HLC) measures human exposure to mosquito bites and evaluates the efficacy of vector control tools. However, it may expose volunteers to potentially infected mosquitoes. The mosquito electrocuting trap (MET) and BG-Sentinel traps (BGS) represent alternative, exposure-free methods for sampling host-seeking mosquitoes. This study investigates whether these methods can be effectively used as alternatives to HLC for measuring the efficacy transfluthrin against Aedes aegypti. Methods The protective efficacy (PE) of freestanding passive transfluthrin emanators (FTPEs), measured by HLC, MET and BGS were compared in no-choice and choice tests. The methods were located 2 m from an experimental hut with FTPEs positioned 3 m on either side of them. For the choice experiment, a competitor HLC was included 10 m from the first collection point. One hundred laboratory-reared Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were released and collected for three consecutive hours. Results In the no-choice test, each method measured similar PE; HLC: 66% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 50–82), MET: 55% (95% CI: 48–63) and BGS: 64% (95% CI: 54–73). The proportion of mosquitoes recaptured was consistent between methods (20–24%) in treatment and varied (47–71%) in the control. However, in choice tests, the PE measured by each method varied; HLC: 37% (95% CI: 25–50%), MET: 76% (95% CI: 61–92) and BGS trap: 0% (95% CI: 0–100). Recaptured mosquitoes were no longer consistent between methods in treatment (2–26%) and remained variable in the control (7–42%). FTPE provided 50% PE to the second HLC 10 m away. In the control, the MET and the BGS were less efficacious in collecting mosquitoes in the presence of a second HLC. Conclusions Measurement of the PE in isolation was fairly consistent for HLC, MET and BGS. Because HLC is not advisable, it is reasonable to use MET / BGS as a proxy for HLC for testing VP in areas of active arboviruses endemic areas. The presence of a human host in close proximity invalidated the PE estimates from BGS and METs. Findings also indicated that transfluthrin can protect multiple people in the peridomestic area and that at short-range mosquitoes select humans over the BGS.

scholarly journals Adaptation of Anopheles Vectors to Anthropogenic Malaria-Associated Rubber Plantations and Indoor Residual Spraying: Establishing Population Dynamics and Insecticide Susceptibility

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suntorn Pimnon ◽  
Adisak Bhumiratana
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Indoor Residual Spraying ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Anthropogenic Activity ◽  
Human Landing Catch ◽  
Rubber Plantation ◽  
Insecticide Susceptibility ◽  
Rubber Plantations ◽  
Human Landing ◽  
Population Ratio

Anthropogenic activity such as the establishment of Anopheles-infested rubber plantations can influence local malaria transmission dynamics to which the population dynamics and insecticide susceptibility of local Anopheles vectors are related. Using human landing catch collections at a house protected by indoor residual spraying (IRS), the periodic assessment of species composition, abundance, and blood-feeding behaviors was done in pre-IRS, during IRS, and post-IRS at 3, 6, and 12 months in a malaria-associated rubber plantation (MRP) ecotope of the Bo Rai district, Trat Province, Thailand, after malaria outbreak occurred. The study MRP ecotope elicited the population ratio (pi) of Anopheles vectors: An. campestris (0.747), An. dirus (0.168), An. minimus (0.037), An. barbirostris (0.027), and An. pseudowillmori (0.002), and of An. jamesii nonvector (0.019). Among these, two predominant An. campestris and An. dirus night-biters were then used in the susceptibility test against 0.05% deltamethrin (DEL) and 0.09% bifenthrin (BT) insecticides currently used in IRS. An. campestris, a suspected vector of Plasmodium vivax, had a tendency to appear throughout the study and behaved both exophagy and endophagy. It was highly susceptible to BT, showing 95.0% mortality (95% CI, 79.1–100) while decreasing sensitivity of 87.2% (95% CI, 78.4–95.9) to DEL. An. dirus, a primary vector of Plasmodium falciparum, had a tendency to feed outdoors rather than indoors. Significant differences in the abundance (mean density and human landing rate) were observed at pre-IRS (P<0.001  and  P=0.046), and similarly, during IRS (P=0.001  and  P=0.037). It was highly susceptible to DEL and BT, showing 100% mortality rate. Evidently, the study MRP ecotope contributed receptive environment to favor the abundant local Anopheles vectors and their outdoor biting preference. This can pose the risk for residual malaria parasite transmission in Anopheles vectors even though the house is protected by IRS.

Oogenesis in a North American population of Aedes (Finlaya) togoi (Theobald) (Diptera: Culicidae)

1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (9) ◽  
pp. 2168-2171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn M. McGinnis ◽  
Reinhart A. Brust
Keyword(s):  
North American ◽  
Blood Meal ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
North American Population ◽  
American Population ◽  
Female Population ◽  
Host Seeking ◽  
Laboratory Colony ◽  
Aedes Togoi

The expression of autogeny in Aedes togoi and its timing are highly variable. Autogenous females, fed 10% sucrose and maintained at 24 °C with a photoperiod of 17.5 h light: 6.5 h dark, developed mature eggs between 5 and 30 days after eclosion. The percent autogeny in a population from Vancouver, B.C., collected as larvae from the field (P1 generation) was 42% ([Formula: see text] eggs/female); the percent autogeny in the laboratory F2 generation, unselected for autogeny, was 40% ([Formula: see text] eggs/female). In the laboratory colony, the process of maturing follicles to the egg stage was frequently delayed. Some females (8%) had mature oocytes on day 5, while 20, 27, and 44% of the female population had mature oocytes on days 6, 8, and 15, respectively. The presence of mature oocytes does not inhibit blood feeding: 17–26% of the females containing mature oocytes took blood, and embarked on a new round of oogenesis. The ovaries of these females contained two separate cohorts of primary follicles, viz., mature oocytes developed autogenously and oocytes developing as a result of the blood meal. Most of the autogenous females with mature oocytes (57–83%) refused blood. This indicates that the presence of mature follicles is a deterrent to feeding and probably to host-seeking. Mating had no effect on the proportion of females that was autogenous.

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