A novel MALDI-TOF MS-based method for blood meal identification in insect vectors: A proof of concept study on phlebotomine sand flies

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has recently emerged in entomology as a technique to identify arthropods and their blood meal source. In this study, female Anopheles gambiae were fed on five host blood sources: ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), binturong (Arctictis binturong), springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis), jaguar (Panthera onca) and Hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas), while Anopheles coluzzii were fed on three hosts: dromedary (Camelus dromedarius), Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) and pig (Sus scrofa). We obtained the MS spectra from 240 engorged mosquito abdomens and selected high quality ones from 72 mosquito abdomens to upgrade our home-made database. We excluded from the analysis any spectra of low quality (n = 80), and the remaining 88 specimens were subjected to a blind test analysis against the home-made database. We obtained 100% correct identification of the blood meal source for the specimens collected, 1, 12 and 24 h post-feeding, whereas for the specimens collected 36 h post-feeding, the correct identification rate decreased dramatically. We confirm here that MALDI-TOF MS can be used to identify the blood meal origin of freshly engorged mosquitoes, which opens new perspectives for further studies, including the impact of the mosquito species on blood meal identification.

Download Full-text

MALDI-TOF MS identification of Anopheles gambiae Giles blood meal crushed on Whatman filter papers

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0183238 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 12 (8) ◽

pp. e0183238 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Sirama Niare ◽

Lionel Almeras ◽

Fatalmoudou Tandina ◽

Amina Yssouf ◽

Affane Bacar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Anopheles Gambiae ◽

Blood Meal ◽

Maldi Tof Ms ◽

Maldi Tof ◽

Anopheles Gambiae Giles ◽

Filter Papers ◽

Tof Ms

Download Full-text

Integrative Approach to Phlebotomus mascittii Grassi, 1908: First Record in Vienna with New Morphological and Molecular Insights

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens9121032 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 1032

Author(s):

Edwin Kniha ◽

Vít Dvořák ◽

Petr Halada ◽

Markus Milchram ◽

Adelheid G. Obwaller ◽

...

Keyword(s):

First Record ◽

Protein Profiling ◽

Sand Fly ◽

Integrative Approach ◽

Marker Genes ◽

Morphological Identification ◽

Sand Flies ◽

Maldi Tof Ms ◽

Maldi Tof ◽

Tof Ms

Sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) are blood-feeding insects that transmit the protozoan parasites Leishmania spp. and various arthropod-borne (arbo) viruses. While in Mediterranean parts of Europe the sand fly fauna is diverse, in Central European countries including Austria mainly Phlebotomus mascittii is found, an assumed but unproven vector of Leishmania infantum. To update the currently understudied sand fly distribution in Austria, a sand fly survey was performed and other entomological catches were screened for sand flies. Seven new trapping locations of Ph. mascittii are reported including the first record in Vienna, representing also one of the first findings of this species in a city. Morphological identification, supported by fluorescence microscopy, was confirmed by two molecular approaches, including sequencing and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) protein profiling. Sand fly occurrence and activity were evaluated based on surveyed locations, habitat requirements and climatic parameters. Moreover, a first comparison of European Ph. mascittii populations was made by two marker genes, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI), and cytochrome b (cytb), as well as MALDI-TOF mass spectra. Our study provides new important records of Ph. mascittii in Austria and valuable data for prospective entomological surveys. MALDI-TOF MS protein profiling was shown to be a reliable tool for differentiation between sand fly species. Rising temperatures and globalization demand for regular entomological surveys to monitor changes in species distribution and composition. This is also important with respect to the possible vector competence of Ph. mascittii.

Download Full-text

Using MALDI-TOF MS to identify mosquitoes collected in Mali and their blood meals

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182018000070 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 145 (9) ◽

pp. 1170-1182 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Fatalmoudou Tandina ◽

Sirama Niaré ◽

Maureen Laroche ◽

Abdoulaye K Koné ◽

Adama Z Diarra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Meal ◽

Mosquito Species ◽

Anopheles Coluzzii ◽

Maldi Tof Ms ◽

Maldi Tof ◽

Whatman Filter Paper ◽

Flight Mass Spectrometry ◽

Promising Tool ◽

Blood Meals ◽

Tof Ms

AbstractMatrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has been recently described as an innovative and effective tool for identifying arthropods and mosquito blood meal sources. To test this approach in the context of an entomological survey in the field, mosquitoes were collected from five ecologically distinct areas of Mali. We successfully analysed the blood meals from 651 mosquito abdomens crushed on Whatman filter paper (WFPs) in the field using MALDI-TOF MS. The legs of 826 mosquitoes were then submitted for MALDI-TOF MS analysis in order to identify the different mosquito species. Eight mosquito species were identified, including Anopheles gambiae Giles, Anopheles coluzzii, Anopheles arabiensis, Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex neavei, Culex perexiguus, Aedes aegypti and Aedes fowleri in Mali. The field mosquitoes for which MALDI-TOF MS did not provide successful identification were not previously available in our database. These specimens were subsequently molecularly identified. The WFP blood meal sources found in this study were matched against human blood (n = 619), chicken blood (n = 9), cow blood (n = 9), donkey blood (n = 6), dog blood (n = 5) and sheep blood (n = 3). This study reinforces the fact that MALDI-TOF MS is a promising tool for entomological surveys.

Download Full-text