Feeding habits of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in an area of sylvatic transmission of yellow fever in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

BackgroundThe reintroduction of sylvatic yellow fever in the state of São Paulo after about six decades was confirmed in the Northwestern region in 2000, where in 2008 there also occurred an important epizootic. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feeding habits of culicids potentially involved in the sylvatic transmission of the virus in this region.MethodsSpecimens were collected in 24 forested localities at ground level with hand nets and mouth aspirators. Collections were made quarterly between October 2006 and July 2008 during daylight hours. Blood-meal identification was carried out in mosquitoes of the tribes Aedini, Mansoniini and Sabethini. The biotin/avidin sandwich ELISA was employed to determine six source types: bird, bovine, equine, rat, human and monkey.ResultsA total of 24,879 females of the three tribes were obtained, 245 (0.98%) of which were engorged. The presence of three different blood sources per engorged female was the predominant situation, and included 35.10% of the total of samples processed. Samples with two or four different sources were represented by 25.31% and 25.71%, of the specimens, respectively, while just 9.39% had only one type and 1.22%, five different sources. Aedes scapularis, Ae. serratus (Group), Psorophora albigenu and Ps. ferox were the most abundant species and accounted for about 95% of the engorged specimens. Of the principal vector species, Haemagogus janthinomys/capricornii was found with bird, bovine and primate blood. These sources were predominant and alternated top ranking as the most frequent source according to the mosquito species and collection site. In general, primate blood was the most prevalent source.ConclusionsThe human population of the region visits this ecotone frequently, which indicates the need for the periodical assessment of vaccination coverage against yellow fever. The frequency of non-human primate blood source in mosquito species that show minor vector importance in yellow fever virus transmission deserves attention. The eclectic feeding habits and some aspects of the interactions between potential vectors and reservoirs of yellow fever may be associated with the habitat fragmentation characteristic of the region. We recommend that further studies on the capacity and vector competence be performed on secondary vectors in extra-Amazonian region.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40409-015-0005-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Genomic Surveillance of Yellow Fever Virus Epizootic in São Paulo, Brazil, 2016 – 2018

“…1B; Fig. 2 ), where YFV has also been detected in 2000 and 2008 [29]. The two waves of epizootic transmission begin at the time that the virus began to be detected in municipalities in the south of São Paulo state (within 200km of São Paulo municipality) ( Figs.…”

Possible non-sylvatic transmission of yellow fever between non-human primates in São Paulo city, Brazil, 2017–2018

“…This species shows a synanthropic tendency, occurring in modified environments and breeding in artificial containers 30,31 . It is an anthropophilic opportunistic mosquito that feeds on birds, humans, and NHP 32 . Other entomological surveys have demonstrated YFV-positive pools in Rio de Janeiro and Bahia 15 .…”

Identification of Blood Meals from Potential Arbovirus Mosquito Vectors in the Peruvian Amazon Basin

“…14 Eclectic feeding behavior of Ps. albigenu has been reported in forest-protected areas of Brazil, 15,16 suggesting Ps. albigenu feeding preference was based on host availability.…”

“…fulvus had anthropophilic and peridomestic feeding preferences in our study, findings consistent with previous reports from Brazil. 9,16 In the Amazon Basin, Ae. serratus and Ae.…”