Host‐seeking behavior and fecundity of the female Aedes aegypti to human blood types

Abstract

BACKGROUND Mosquitoes express different degrees of preference towards hosts depending on behavioral, ecological, and physiological factors. These preferences have implications for mosquito‐borne disease risk. This study investigated the effect of human blood groups on the behavior and fecundity of the female Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) from March 2018 to August 2019. In laboratory tests, mosquitoes were fed artificial membrane feeders on A, AB, B, and O blood groups. The level of attraction to different blood groups was tested under controlled conditions with a wind tunnel bioassay. RESULTS The responses of Ae. aegypti to the blood groups treatments in the five‐choice tunnel chambers showed a significant preference (Kruskal‐Wallis (2 = 85.772, df = 4, P < 0.0001) for favor blood group B. Also, the response of Ae. aegypti to olfactory cues (filth) derived from a pool of volunteers cutting across the blood groups showed a similar preference for pattern towards the blood group B. The percentage rate of digestibility in Ae. aegypti was highest in those fed on blood group O, while individuals fed on the AB blood group had the lowest digestion rate. Thus, the rate of digestibility highly varied significantly (P < 0.0001) between blood groups. Overall, Ae. aegypti fed on blood group B had the highest average feeding rate, number of females with eggs, and fecundity level, which showed a significant difference (P < 0.0001) on preferred. CONCLUSION This study provides novel insight into the ABO host choice of Ae. aegypti and reinforces the need for personal protection against dengue virus transmission in light of the increased risk of exposure for individuals with B blood type. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Differential mosquito attraction to humans is associated with skin-derived carboxylic acid levels

“…There is much speculation about possible mechanisms, but only some have a scientific basis. A common explanation offered by non-experts is that differences in ABO blood type “explain” attractiveness to mosquitoes, but experimental data that address this belief are contradictory ( Anjomruz et al, 2014 ; Khan et al, 2022 ; Shirai et al, 2004 ; Thornton et al, 1976 ; Wood et al, 1972 ). The widely quoted efficacy of eating garlic ( Rajan et al, 2005 ) or B vitamins ( Ives and Paskewitz, 2005 ) as a home remedy to repel mosquitoes is similarly unclear.…”

Radio-Frequency Dosimetry of in vivo Experiments with Aquatic Larval Yellow Fever Mosquitoes

“…[1] This species is found mostly near humans as the females prefer to feed on human blood. [2] Hence, they are often exposed to anthropogenic electromagnetic fields (EMFs). The effects of radio-frequency (RF)-EMFs on insects however is not yet widely studied.…”