Host-Feeding Patterns of<i>Culex</i>Mosquitoes in Relation to Trap Habitat

Patrican, Lisa A.; Hackett, Laura E.; Briggs, James E.; McGowan, Jay W.; Unnasch, Thomas R.; Lee, Joon Hak

doi:10.3201/eid1312.070275

Cited by 24 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 10 publications

(22 reference statements)

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“…pipiens varies considerably by region (35-96%). 7,16,40,53,54 We documented an unusually high rate of human feeding by Cx. pipiens (16% of total blood meals).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Host Selection by Culex pipiens Mosquitoes and West Nile Virus Amplification

Hamer

Kitron

Goldberg

et al. 2009

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

325

408

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Recent field studies have suggested that the dynamics of West Nile virus (WNV) transmission are influenced strongly by a few key super spreader bird species that function both as primary blood hosts of the vector mosquitoes (in particular Culex pipiens) and as reservoir-competent virus hosts. It has been hypothesized that human cases result from a shift in mosquito feeding from these key bird species to humans after abundance of the key birds species decreases. To test this paradigm, we performed a mosquito blood meal analysis integrating host-feeding patterns of Cx. pipiens, the principal vector of WNV in the eastern United States north of the latitude 36 degrees N and other mosquito species with robust measures of host availability, to determine host selection in a WNV-endemic area of suburban Chicago, Illinois, during 2005-2007. Results showed that Cx. pipiens fed predominantly (83%) on birds with a high diversity of species used as hosts (25 species). American robins (Turdus migratorius) were marginally overused and several species were underused on the basis of relative abundance measures, including the common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula), house sparrow (Passer domesticus), and European starling (Sturnus vulgaris). Culex pipiens also fed substantially on mammals (19%; 7 species with humans representing 16%). West Nile virus transmission intensified in July of both years at times when American robins were heavily fed upon, and then decreased when robin abundance decreased, after which other birds species were selected as hosts. There was no shift in feeding from birds to mammals coincident with emergence of human cases. Rather, bird feeding predominated when the onset of the human cases occurred. Measures of host abundance and competence and Cx. pipiens feeding preference were combined to estimate the amplification fractions of the different bird species. Predictions were that approximately 66% of WNV-infectious Cx. pipiens became infected from feeding on just a few species of birds, including American robins (35%), blue jays (17%, Cyanocitta cristata), and house finches (15%, Carpodacus mexicanus).

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“…pipiens varies considerably by region (35-96%). 7,16,40,53,54 We documented an unusually high rate of human feeding by Cx. pipiens (16% of total blood meals).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Host Selection by Culex pipiens Mosquitoes and West Nile Virus Amplification

Hamer

Kitron

Goldberg

et al. 2009

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

325

408

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“…pipiens as the primary enzootic vector in this region. Culex pipiens has been established as an important enzootic vector by consistent isolations of WNV from mosquito trap collections [11,13,20], by its ornithophilic feeding behaviour [13,40,41], and associations between virus-infected mosquitoes and dead bird reports [42][43][44][45][46]. This species has also been incriminated as a bridge vector in Illinois [47].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vector host-feeding preferences drive transmission of multi-host pathogens: West Nile virus as a model system

et al. 2011

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Seasonal epizootics of vector-borne pathogens infecting multiple species are ecologically complex and difficult to forecast. Pathogen transmission potential within the host community is determined by the relative abilities of host species to maintain and transmit the pathogen and by ecological factors influencing contact rates between hosts and vectors. Increasing evidence of strong feeding preferences by a number of vectors suggests that the host community experienced by the pathogen may be very different from the local host community. We developed an empirically informed transmission model for West Nile virus (WNV) in four sites using one vector species (Culex pipiens) and preferred and non-preferred avian hosts. We measured strong feeding preferences for American robins (Turdus migratorius) by Cx. pipiens, quantified as the proportion of Cx. pipiens blood meals from robins in relation to their abundance (feeding index). The model accurately predicted WNV prevalence in Cx. pipiens at three of four sites. Sensitivity analysis revealed feeding preference was the most influential parameter on intensity and timing of peak WNV infection in Cx. pipiens and a threshold feeding index for transmission was identified. Our findings indicate host preferenceinduced contact heterogeneity is a key mediator of vector-borne pathogen epizootics in multi-species host communities, and should be incorporated into multi-host transmission models.

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“…Although a number of studies have previously shown similar heterogeneity in mosquito feeding patterns, [2][3][4][5][6][7]34 our study is the first to show such heterogeneity at the host species level for Cs. melanura , the primary enzootic vector of EEEV.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 79%

“…To date, however, such studies have been largely restricted to potential vectors of WNV. [3][4][5][6][7] The extent to which observations from studies of WNV can be applied to other mosquito-borne pathogen systems for which birds serve as reservoir hosts is uncertain, because these pathogens vary in the ecological factors that influence transmission. 11 The ecology of the transmission dynamics of eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) is distinct from that of WNV.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1 Recent research has emphasized that some bird species are overused relative to their local availability by vector mosquitoes as blood-meal sources [2][3][4][5][6][7] and that overuse of certain avian species could influence the transmission of pathogens. 8 For example, temporal and spatial patterns of American robin ( Turdus migratorius ) abundance have been associated with variability of the rate of human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) and prevalence of WNV in mosquito populations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Multi-Year Study of Mosquito Feeding Patterns on Avian Hosts in a Southeastern Focus of Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus

Estep¹,

McClure²,

Burkett‐Cadena³

et al. 2011

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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Abstract. Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) is a mosquito-borne pathogen that cycles in birds but also causes severe disease in humans and horses. We examined patterns of avian host use by vectors of EEEV in Alabama from 2001 to 2009 using blood-meal analysis of field-collected mosquitoes and avian abundance surveys. The northern cardinal ( Cardinalis cardinalis ) was the only preferred host (fed on significantly more than expected based on abundance) of Culiseta melanura , the enzootic vector of EEEV. Preferred hosts of Culex erraticus , a putative bridge vector of EEEV, were American robin ( Turdus migratorius ), Carolina chickadee ( Poecile carolinensis ), barred owl ( Strix varia ), and northern mockingbird ( Mimus polyglottis ). Our results provide insight into the relationships between vectors of EEEV and their avian hosts in the Southeast and suggest that the northern cardinal may be important in the ecology of EEEV in this region.

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Host-Feeding Patterns ofCulexMosquitoes in Relation to Trap Habitat

Cited by 24 publications

References 10 publications

Host Selection by Culex pipiens Mosquitoes and West Nile Virus Amplification

Host Selection by Culex pipiens Mosquitoes and West Nile Virus Amplification

Vector host-feeding preferences drive transmission of multi-host pathogens: West Nile virus as a model system

A Multi-Year Study of Mosquito Feeding Patterns on Avian Hosts in a Southeastern Focus of Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus

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