Analysis of post-blood meal flight distances in mosquitoes utilizing zoo animal blood meals

Abstract

We assessed the post-blood meal flight distance of four mosquito species in a unique environment using blood meal analysis. Mosquitoes were trapped at the Rio Grande Zoo in Albuquerque, NM, and the blood source of blood-engorged mosquitoes was identified. The distance from the enclosure of the animal serving as a blood source to the trap site was then determined. We found that mosquitoes captured at the zoo flew no more than 170 m with an average distance of 106.7 m after taking a blood meal. This is the first study in which the flight distance of wild mosquitoes has been assessed using blood meal analysis and the first in which zoo animals have served as the exclusive source of blood meals.

Evaluation of Seasonal Feeding Patterns of West Nile Virus Vectors in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States: Implications for Disease Transmission

“…Each year, between 18 and 22 trapping sites were established along the Rio Grande Bosque in Bernalillo County. Two types of mosquito traps were used at each site using a procedure that has been previously described (Greenberg et al 2012). Collected mosquitoes were immediately placed on dry ice and were subsequently stored at −80°C.…”

“…Likewise, avian bloodmeals were identified by amplifying a 508-bp fragment of the cytochrome b gene with avian-specific primers (Cisneros and Johnson 2001). The 50- μ l reactions were carried out using a PCR protocol and purification process previously described (Molaei et al 2007, Greenberg et al 2012). Thermocycling conditions have been previously published (Greenberg et al 2012).…”

“…The 50- μ l reactions were carried out using a PCR protocol and purification process previously described (Molaei et al 2007, Greenberg et al 2012). Thermocycling conditions have been previously published (Greenberg et al 2012). A negative water control, lacking template, was included with all PCR reactions.…”

“…quinquefasciatus takes the majority of its bloodmeals from avian hosts, and Cx. tarsalis appears to feed regularly on both avian and mammalian hosts (Greenberg et al 2012, 2013). These three species were selected for analysis because all three have tested positive for the West Nile virus (WNV) in Bernalillo County, NM, and have been implicated as potential vectors of this arbovirus (DiMenna et al 2006a).…”

Unraveling host-vector-arbovirus interactions by two-gene high resolution melting mosquito bloodmeal analysis in a Kenyan wildlife-livestock interface

“…However, this approach alone could not reliably differentiate the diversity of potential mosquito bloodmeal host species in East Africa. Compared to less mobile triatomine bugs, mosquitoes can fly long distances [18] seeking bloodmeals and some species feed on a range of hosts. Melting profiles of some pairs of vertebrate host species could only be differentiated clearly based on HRM profiles generated by either cyt b or 16S amplicons, but not by both markers (Fig 2).…”