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The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene2011; 84(5); 718-726; doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.10-0586

A multi-year study of mosquito feeding patterns on avian hosts in a southeastern focus of eastern equine encephalitis virus.

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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Publication Date: 2011-05-05 PubMed ID: 21540380PubMed Central: PMC3083738DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.10-0586Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • N.I.H.
  • Extramural
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research piece carried out a multi-year study of mosquito feeding patterns on birds in Alabama, from 2001 to 2009. It specifically focused on vectors associated with the Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), a mosquito-borne pathogen, to determine which bird species were preferred hosts and could potentially impact the ecology of this virus.

Objective of the Study

  • The aim of this research was to determine and analyze the avian host usage patterns of mosquitoes carrying EEEV in Alabama over eight years, using blood-meal analysis of field-gathered mosquitoes and avian abundance surveys.

Findings

  • The northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) was identified as the most preferred host for Culiseta melanura, the enzootic vector of EEEV. This bird species was fed on significantly more by the mosquitoes than would be expected based on its abundance. This suggests that it could play a crucial role in the ecology of EEEV in the southeastern region.
  • The preferred hosts for Culex erraticus, a potential bridge vector for EEEV, were identified as the American robin (Turdus migratorius), Carolina chickadee (Poecile carolinensis), barred owl (Strix varia), and northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottis).

Significance

  • This study offers important insights into the relationship between EEEV vectors and their avian hosts in southeastern United States and may have implications for the understanding and management of the disease.
  • Understanding these feeding patterns could help in developing strategies for detecting and controlling the spread of EEEV, given its capacity to cause severe disease in humans and horses.
  • The findings specifically highlight the potential importance of the northern cardinal in the ecology of EEEV, a direction that further research in the field could focus on as part of efforts to control this virus.

Cite This Article

APA
Estep LK, McClure CJ, Burkett-Cadena ND, Hassan HK, Hicks TL, Unnasch TR, Hill GE. (2011). A multi-year study of mosquito feeding patterns on avian hosts in a southeastern focus of eastern equine encephalitis virus. Am J Trop Med Hyg, 84(5), 718-726. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.2011.10-0586

Publication

The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene
ISSN: 1476-1645
NlmUniqueID: 0370507
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 84
Issue: 5
Pages: 718-726

Researcher Affiliations

Estep, Laura K
  • Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA. lke0001@auburn.edu
McClure, Christopher J W
    Burkett-Cadena, Nathan D
      Hassan, Hassan K
        Hicks, Tyler L
          Unnasch, Thomas R
            Hill, Geoffrey E

              MeSH Terms

              • Alabama
              • Animals
              • Birds / classification
              • Birds / virology
              • Culex / physiology
              • Encephalitis Virus, Eastern Equine / isolation & purification
              • Feeding Behavior
              • Species Specificity

              Grant Funding

              • R01 AI049724 / NIAID NIH HHS
              • R01AI049724 / NIAID NIH HHS

              References

              This article includes 44 references

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