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Zoonoses and public health2022; 70(3); 256-268; doi: 10.1111/zph.13021

Blood feeding patterns of the Culex pipiens complex in equestrian land uses and their implications for arboviral encephalitis risk in temperate Argentina.

Abstract: Blood feeding patterns of mosquitoes are a key component in the dynamics of arboviral encephalitides transmission. In temperate Argentina, the members of the Culex pipiens complex include Cx. pipiens molestus, Cx. quinquefasciatus and their hybrids. To characterize their blood feeding patterns, adult resting mosquitoes were collected monthly during the warm season in urban and rural equestrian fields. The availability of birds and domestic mammals per site was characterized. The blood source and the complex member were successfully identified for 89 specimens using PCR. Blood of 19 vertebrate species was isolated including four mammals (most common feeds from dog, Canus lupus 19% of the blood meals; and horse, Equus caballus 18%) and 15 birds (picazuro pigeon, Patagioenas picazuro 11%; eared dove, Zenaida auriculata 10%; chicken, Gallus gallus 9%). The Forage Ratio (FR), calculated as the proportion of feeds taken from a given host species with respect to that host availability in the environment, suggested preference for dog by all members of the complex (FR ≥4.5). On the contrary, FR values suggested avoidance for horse by Cx. quinquefasciatus and the hybrid (FR ≤0.8), and a use proportional to its abundance by Cx. pipiens molestus (FR = 1.1-1.2 in urban and rural sites, respectively). FR values suggesting preference were obtained for avian species of the orders Passeriformes (7 species in total) and Columbiformes (5) by all members of the complex (FR ≥ 3.3), whereas values for monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus, Psiitaciformes) suggested avoidance by Cx. quinquefasciatus in urban sites (FR = 0.4) and by Cx. pipiens molestus in rural sites (FR = 0.3) but not in urban sites (FR = 1.4). A mammal-bird index (MBI, from -1 all avian to +1 all mammalian blood meals) was calculated for each member of the complex and urbanization category. Values were negative for Cx. quinquefasciatus (MBIurban  = -0.60, MBIrural  = -0.33) and positive for Cx. pipiens molestus (MBIurban  = 0.20, MBIrural  = 0.60), indicating a higher proportion of feeds taken on birds and mammals, respectively, regardless of the urbanization category. In temperate Argentina, the members of the Cx. pipiens complex fed both on horses and on birds, thus representing a real risk of transmission of arboviral encephalitides from avian enzootic cycles to horse epizootics.
© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.
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Publication Date: 2022-12-27 PubMed ID: 36575644DOI: 10.1111/zph.13021Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
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  • 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.

The research investigates the blood feeding behaviors of the mosquito species Culex pipiens, to understand its role in transmitting arboviral encephalitis in Argentina. Several birds and mammals were identified as primary feed sources giving insight into potential avenues for disease transmission.

Study Design and Species Involved

  • The study specifically focused on the mosquitoes belonging to the Culex pipiens complex, which is comprised of Cx. pipiens molestus, Cx. quinquefasciatus, and their hybrids.
  • The adults of these species were collected from urban and rural horse fields during the warm season, when mosquitoes typically breed and are most active.
  • The frequency of various bird and mammalian species per site was characterized to note the potential hosts available for mosquitoes in the area.

Methodology and Results

  • The researchers used PCR techniques to successfully identify the blood source and the mosquito species from 89 specimens.
  • They discovered the mosquitoes fed on the blood of 19 vertebrate species, but most commonly on dogs and horses, and also on 15 bird species, with picazuro pigeon, eared dove and chicken being common feed sources.
  • The Forage Ratio (FR), indicating mosquitoes’ preference for a host relative to its availability, indicated a preference for dogs by all members of the mosquito complex with a FR of 4.5 or more.

Mosquito Feeding Behaviour

  • There was a noticeable avoidance of horses by Cx. quinquefasciatus and the hybrid species, with a FR of less than 0.8, whereas Cx. pipiens molestus showed no distinct preference or avoidance, with a FR of around 1.
  • Several bird species from the orders Passeriformes and Columbiformes appeared to be preferred by all the mosquitoes with FR values of at least 3.3.
  • The monk parakeet was however avoided by Cx. quinquefasciatus in urban sites and Cx. pipiens molestus in rural sites.

Analysis and Conclusions

  • An index named Mammal-Bird Index (MBI) was calculated for each type of mosquito and level of urbanization. Cx. quinquefasciatus had negative MBI values, implying a higher proportion of feeds were taken from birds, whereas Cx. pipiens molestus had positive MBI values, implying a higher proportion of feeds from mammals.
  • This feeding pattern highlights the potential for arboviral encephalitis transmission. The study results indicate that Cx. pipiens complex in Argentina feeds on both horses and birds, which could facilitate the transmission of the disease from avian cycles to horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Cardo MV, Carbajo AE, Mozzoni C, Kliger M, Vezzani D. (2022). Blood feeding patterns of the Culex pipiens complex in equestrian land uses and their implications for arboviral encephalitis risk in temperate Argentina. Zoonoses Public Health, 70(3), 256-268. https://doi.org/10.1111/zph.13021

Publication

Zoonoses and public health
ISSN: 1863-2378
NlmUniqueID: 101300786
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 70
Issue: 3
Pages: 256-268

Researcher Affiliations

Cardo, María Victoria
  • Ecología de Enfermedades Transmitidas por Vectores (2eTV), Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental-IIIA, UNSAM-CONICET, San Martín, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
  • Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Carbajo, Aníbal Eduardo
  • Ecología de Enfermedades Transmitidas por Vectores (2eTV), Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental-IIIA, UNSAM-CONICET, San Martín, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
  • Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Mozzoni, Constanza
  • Fundación Rewilding, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Kliger, Marlene
  • Ecología de Enfermedades Transmitidas por Vectores (2eTV), Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental-IIIA, UNSAM-CONICET, San Martín, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
  • Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Vezzani, Darío
  • Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
  • Instituto Multidisciplinario sobre Ecosistemas y Desarrollo Sustentable, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, UNCPBA-CICPBA, Tandil, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Dogs
  • Culex
  • Argentina / epidemiology
  • Chickens
  • Encephalitis, Arbovirus / veterinary
  • Mammals
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Dog Diseases
  • Horse Diseases

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