scholarly journals Can malaria parasites manipulate the odour-mediated host preference of their mosquito vectors?

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phuong L. Nguyen ◽  
Amélie Vantaux ◽  
Domonbabele FdS Hien ◽  
Kounbobr R. Dabiré ◽  
Bienvenue K. Yameogo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Host Choice ◽  
Host Feeding ◽  
Parasite Transmission ◽  
Mosquito Vectors ◽  
Outdoor Air ◽  
Malaria Parasites ◽  
Activation Rate ◽  
Human Odour ◽  
Feeding Behaviours

AbstractMalaria parasites can manipulate mosquito feeding behaviours such as motivation and avidity to feed on vertebrate hosts in ways that increase parasite transmission. However, in natural conditions, not all vertebrate blood-sources are suitable hosts for the parasite. Whether malaria parasites can manipulate mosquito host choice in ways that enhance parasite transmission toward suitable hosts and/or reduce mosquito attraction to unsuitable hosts (i.e. specific manipulation) is unknown. To address this question, we experimentally infected three species of mosquito vectors (Anopheles coluzzii, Anopheles gambiae, and Anopheles arabiensis) with wild isolates of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, and examined the effects of immature (oocyst) and mature (sporozoite) infections on mosquito behavioural responses (activation rate and odour choice) to combinations of calf odour, human odour and outdoor air using a dual-port olfactometer. Regardless of parasite developmental stage and mosquito species, P. falciparum infection did not alter mosquito activation rate or their choice for human odours. The overall expression pattern of host choice of all three mosquito species was consistent with a high degree of anthropophily, with both infected and uninfected individuals showing higher attraction toward human odour over calf odour, human odour over outdoor air, and outdoor air over calf odour. Our results suggests that, in this system, the parasite may not be able to manipulate the early long-range behavioural steps involved in the mosquito host-feeding process, including initiation of host-seeking and host orientation. Future studies examining mosquito host-feeding behaviours at a shorter range (i.e. the “at-host” foraging activities) are required to test whether malaria parasites can modify their mosquito host choice to enhance transmission toward suitable hosts and/or reduce biting on unsuitable hosts.

scholarly journals Assessing Diversity, Plasmodium Infection and Blood Meal Sources in Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) from a Brazilian Zoological Park with Avian Malaria Transmission

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 215
Author(s):  
Lilian de Oliveira Guimarães ◽  
Roseli França Simões ◽  
Carolina Romeiro Fernandes Chagas ◽  
Regiane Maria Tironi de Menezes ◽  
Fabiana Santos Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Meal ◽  
Avian Malaria ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Plasmodium Species ◽  
Sao Paulo ◽  
São Paulo ◽  
Malaria Parasites ◽  
Ecological Relationships ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Avian Malaria Parasites

Avian malaria parasites are widespread parasites transmitted by Culicidae insects belonging to different genera. Even though several studies have been conducted recently, there is still a lack of information about potential vectors of Plasmodium parasites, especially in Neotropical regions. Former studies with free-living and captive animals in São Paulo Zoo showed the presence of several Plasmodium and Haemoproteus species. In 2015, a pilot study was conducted at the zoo to collect mosquitoes in order to find out (i) which species of Culicidae are present in the study area, (ii) what are their blood meal sources, and (iii) to which Plasmodium species might they be potential vectors. Mosquitoes were morphologically and molecularly identified. Blood meal source and haemosporidian DNA were identified using molecular protocols. A total of 25 Culicidae species were identified, and 6 of them were positive for Plasmodium/Haemoproteus DNA. Ten mosquito species had their source of blood meal identified, which were mainly birds, including some species that were positive for haemosporidian parasites in the former study mentioned. This study allowed us to expand the list of potential vectors of avian malaria parasites and to improve our knowledge of the evolutionary and ecological relationships between the highly diverse communities of birds, parasites, and vectors present at São Paulo Zoo.

Avian Malaria Parasites Share Congeneric Mosquito Vectors

2010 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 144-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Kimura ◽  
J. M. Darbro ◽  
L. C. Harrington
Keyword(s):  
Avian Malaria ◽  
Mosquito Vectors ◽  
Malaria Parasites ◽  
Avian Malaria Parasites

scholarly journals Meta-Transcriptomic Comparison of the RNA Viromes of the Mosquito Vectors Culex pipiens and Culex torrentium in Northern Europe

Viruses ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1033 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pettersson ◽  
Shi ◽  
Eden ◽  
Holmes ◽  
Hesson
Keyword(s):  
Culex Pipiens ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Rna Viruses ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Mosquito Vectors ◽  
South Central ◽  
Global Movement ◽  
History Of ◽  
Local Habitat

Mosquitoes harbor an extensive diversity of ‘insect-specific’ RNA viruses in addition to those important to human and animal health. However, because most studies of the mosquito virome have been conducted at lower latitudes, little is known about the diversity and evolutionary history of RNA viruses sampled from mosquitoes in northerly regions. Here, we compared the RNA virome of two common northern mosquito species, Culex pipiens and Culex torrentium, collected in south-central Sweden. Following bulk RNA-sequencing (meta-transcriptomics) of 12 libraries, comprising 120 specimens of Cx. pipiens and 150 specimens of Cx. torrentium, we identified 40 viruses (representing 14 virus families) of which 28 were novel based on phylogenetic analysis of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) protein. Hence, we documented similar levels of virome diversity as in mosquitoes sampled from the more biodiverse lower latitudes. Many viruses were also related to those sampled on other continents, indicative of a widespread global movement and/or long host–virus co-evolution. Although the two mosquito species investigated have overlapping geographical distributions and share many viruses, several viruses were only found at a specific location at this scale of sampling, such that local habitat and geography may play an important role in shaping viral diversity in Culex mosquitoes.

scholarly journals A dataset of distribution and diversity of mosquito-associated viruses and their mosquito vectors in China

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Evans Atoni ◽  
Lu Zhao ◽  
Cheng Hu ◽  
Nanjie Ren ◽  
Xiaoyu Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dengue Virus ◽  
Japanese Encephalitis Virus ◽  
Japanese Encephalitis ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Encephalitis Virus ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Mosquito Vector ◽  
Mosquito Vectors ◽  
Culex Flavivirus ◽  
Conference Papers

Abstract Mosquito-borne viruses such as Zika virus, Japanese Encephalitis virus and Dengue virus present an increasing global health concern. However, in-depth knowledge of the distribution and diversity of mosquito-associated viruses and their related vectors remains limited, especially for China. To promote their understanding, we present the first comprehensive dataset of the distribution and diversity of these viruses and their related vectors in China (including Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau). Data was drawn from peer-reviewed journal articles, conference papers and thesis publications in both English and Chinese. Geographical data on mosquito-associated viruses’ occurrence and related mosquito vector species was extracted, and quality-control processes employed. This dataset contains 2,428 accounts of mosquito-associated viruses’ and mosquito species geo-referenced occurrences at various administrative levels in China. The prevalent mosquito-associated virus includes Japanese encephalitis virus, Dengue virus, Banna virus and Culex flavivirus, whereas the abundant mosquito vectors are Culex tritaeryohynchus, Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens pallens. This geographical dataset delivers a distribution and diversity outline of mosquito-associated viruses in China, and also applicable in various spatial and risk-assessment analysis.

scholarly journals Feeding preferences of Oxpeckers in Kruger National Park, South Africa

Koedoe ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mduduzi Ndlovu ◽  
Leigh Combrink
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Host Species ◽  
National Park ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Host Feeding ◽  
Feeding Preferences ◽  
Tick Feeding ◽  
Host Preferences ◽  
Body Location ◽  
Feeding Behaviours

Oxpeckers reduce tick loads on ungulate hosts, but they are also known to feed on and exacerbate wounds. An understanding of the feeding behaviours and host preferences of these birds is important since they serve as agents of tick control on both domestic and wild ungulates. We conducted an observational study at two sites within the Kruger National Park in South Africa, exploring the feeding preferences of both Red-billed and Yellow-billed Oxpeckers. Oxpeckers’ host preferences, body-location preferences on different hosts, prevalence of feeding and non-feeding behaviours, and frequency of tolerance versus rejection in different hosts were determined. It was found that Yellow-billed Oxpeckers had a smaller range of hosts – typically larger-sized ungulates – and that Red-billed Oxpeckers diversify to smallersized ungulate hosts when in competition with Yellow-billed Oxpeckers. Body-location preferences were generally consistent across sites and across host species. Tick feeding and other host-feeding behaviours (around the eyes, nose, mouth and ears, and anogenital areas) were fairly common. Only six incidents of wound feeding, from a total of 855 observations, were recorded. Tolerance by an ungulate host species was not related to Oxpeckers’ host preferences, suggesting that other factors such as ungulate body size, tick species and tick stages on the host animal may play a significant role in the feeding preferences of Oxpeckers.Conservation implications: It is important to study Oxpeckers’ behavioural feeding preferences so as to better understand their ecology and present distribution, and to determine where they can be reintroduced in future. Reintroduction not only helps with the proliferation of Oxpeckers, but also benefits ungulate hosts through ectoparasite removal and the subsequent control of tick-borne diseases.

scholarly journals An essential amino acid synchronises malaria parasite development with daily host rhythms

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberley F. Prior ◽  
Benita Middleton ◽  
Alíz T.Y. Owolabi ◽  
Mary L. Westwood ◽  
Jacob Holland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Blood Stage ◽  
Parasite Development ◽  
Host Feeding ◽  
Malaria Parasites ◽  
Disease Symptoms ◽  
Development Cycle ◽  
Feeding Rhythms ◽  
Blood Stage Malaria

SummaryThe replication of blood-stage malaria parasites is synchronised to the host’s daily feeding rhythm. We demonstrate that a metabolite provided to the parasite from the host’s food can set the schedule for Plasmodium chabaudi’s intraerythrocytic development cycle (IDC). First, a large-scale screen reveals multiple rhythmic metabolites in the blood that match the timing of the IDC, but only one - the amino acid isoleucine - that malaria parasites must scavenge from host food. Second, perturbing the timing of isoleucine provision and withdrawal demonstrate that parasites use isoleucine to schedule and synchronise their replication. Thus, periodicity in the concentration of isoleucine in the blood, driven by host-feeding rhythms, explains why timing is beneficial to the parasite and how it coordinates with host rhythms. Blood-stage replication of malaria parasites is responsible for the severity of disease symptoms and fuels transmission; disrupting metabolite-sensing by parasites offers a novel intervention to reduce parasite fitness.

scholarly journals Last-come, best served? Mosquito biting order and Plasmodium transmission

2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1939) ◽  
pp. 20202615
Author(s):  
J. Isaïa ◽  
A. Rivero ◽  
O. Glaizot ◽  
P. Christe ◽  
R. Pigeault
Keyword(s):  
Host Population ◽  
Environmental Stochasticity ◽  
Parasite Transmission ◽  
Temporal Heterogeneity ◽  
Mosquito Vectors ◽  
Plastic Response ◽  
Multiple Factors ◽  
Parasite Infections ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Plasmodium Transmission

A pervasive characteristic of parasite infections is their tendency to be overdispersed. Understanding the mechanisms underlying this overdispersed distribution is of key importance as it may impact the transmission dynamics of the pathogen. Although multiple factors ranging from environmental stochasticity to inter-individual heterogeneity may explain parasite overdispersion, parasite infection is also overdispersed in an inbred host population maintained under laboratory conditions, suggesting that other mechanisms are at play. Here, we show that the aggregated distribution of malaria parasites within mosquito vectors is partially explained by a temporal heterogeneity in parasite infectivity triggered by the bites of mosquitoes. Parasite transmission tripled between the mosquito's first and last blood feed in a period of only 3 h. Surprisingly, the increase in transmission is not associated with an increase in parasite investment in production of the transmissible stage. Overall, we highlight that Plasmodium is capable of responding to the bites of mosquitoes to increase its own transmission at a much faster pace than initially thought and that this is partly responsible for overdispersed distribution of infection. We discuss the underlying mechanisms as well as the broader implications of this plastic response for the epidemiology of malaria.

scholarly journals Host circadian clocks do not set the schedule for the within-host replication of malaria parasites

2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1932) ◽  
pp. 20200347
Author(s):  
Aidan J. O'Donnell ◽  
Kimberley F. Prior ◽  
Sarah E. Reece
Keyword(s):  
Time Of Day ◽  
Circadian Clocks ◽  
Host Feeding ◽  
Malaria Parasites ◽  
Disease Symptoms ◽  
Transmission Investment ◽  
Clock Proteins ◽  
Clock Mutant ◽  
Feeding Rhythms ◽  
Parasite Replication

Circadian clocks coordinate organisms' activities with daily cycles in their environment. Parasites are subject to daily rhythms in the within-host environment, resulting from clock-control of host activities, including immune responses. Parasites also exhibit rhythms in their activities: the timing of within-host replication by malaria parasites is coordinated to host feeding rhythms. Precisely which host feeding-related rhythm(s) parasites align with and how this is achieved are unknown. Understanding rhythmic replication in malaria parasites matters because it underpins disease symptoms and fuels transmission investment. We test if rhythmicity in parasite replication is coordinated with the host's feeding-related rhythms and/or rhythms driven by the host's canonical circadian clock. We find that parasite rhythms coordinate with the time of day that hosts feed in both wild-type and clock-mutant hosts, whereas parasite rhythms become dampened in clock-mutant hosts that eat continuously. Our results hold whether infections are initiated with synchronous or with desynchronized parasites. We conclude that malaria parasite replication is coordinated to rhythmic host processes that are independent of the core-clock proteins PERIOD 1 and 2; most likely, a periodic nutrient made available when the host digests food. Thus, novel interventions could disrupt parasite rhythms to reduce their fitness, without interference by host clock-controlled homeostasis.

Surveillance of Culicine Mosquitoes in Six Villages of Taita-Taveta County, Kenya, With Host Determinations From Blood-Fed Females

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 1972-1982
Author(s):  
Vanessa Munyao ◽  
Jonathan Karisa ◽  
Carol Munini Munyao ◽  
Moses Ngari ◽  
Nelson Menza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Physiological Status ◽  
Host Feeding ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
Coastal Kenya ◽  
Outdoor Environments ◽  
Indoor And Outdoor Environments

Abstract Culicine mosquitoes are vectors of human disease-causing pathogens like filarial worms and several arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses). Currently, there has been an increase in emerging and re-emerging vector-borne diseases along coastal Kenya, which has been of major concern in public health. This study aimed at determining culicine mosquito species abundance, diversity and their host feeding preferences in Taita-Taveta County, Coastal Kenya. Entomological sampling was done during the long-wet season (March and May) and long dry season (June to October) 2016–2018. Mosquito sampling was done using CDC light traps and Backpack aspiration for indoor and outdoor environments. All culicine mosquitoes collected were identified morphologically and categorized according to their physiological status. Blood fed culicine mosquitoes were tested for bloodmeal sources using ELISA. In total, 3,278 culicine mosquitoes were collected, of which 738 (22.5 %) were found indoors and 2,540, (77.5 %) outdoors. The mosquitoes consisted of 18 species belonging to four genera: Aedes (7), Culex (8), Mansonia (2), and Coquillettidia (1). Overall, there was high mosquito species diversity (H) in outdoors (H = 2.4339) than in indoors (H = 2.2523), whereas even distribution (EH) was higher in indoors (EH = 0.9064) than outdoors (EH = 0.8266). Majorly the bloodmeals identified were from multiple host sources with (51.6%), single hosts (41.3%), and unidentified (7.2%). This study has demonstrated a high diversity of culicine mosquitoes with relaxed feeding tendencies. These mosquitoes are contributing to mosquito biting nuisance and the likelihood of exposure of populations to diseases of public health.

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