Abstract: Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) is a highly pathogenic mosquito-borne arbovirus, with active transmission foci in freshwater hardwood swamps in eastern North America, where enzootic transmission is maintained between the ornithophilic mosquito, Culiseta melanura, and wild passerine birds. The role of other locally abundant mosquito species in virus transmission and their associations with vertebrate hosts as sources of blood meals within these foci are largely unknown but are of importance in clarifying the dynamics of enzootic and epidemic/epizootic transmission. Blood-engorged mosquitoes were collected from resting boxes at four established EEEV foci in Connecticut during 2010-2011. Mosquitoes were identified to species, and the identity of vertebrate hosts was determined based on mitochondrial cytochrome b and/or cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene sequences of polymerase chain reaction products. The vertebrate hosts of 378 (50.3 % of engorged mosquitoes) specimens, representing 12 mosquito species, were identified. Culiseta morsitans (n = 54; 67.5 %), Culex restuans (n = 4; 66.7 %), and Cx. pipiens (n = 2; 100 %) acquired blood meals exclusively from avian hosts, whereas Aedes cinereus (n = 6; 66.7 %), Ae. canadensis (n = 2; 100 %), and Ae. stimulans (n = 1; 100 %) obtained blood meals solely from mammals. Species that fed opportunistically on both avian and mammalian hosts included: Ae. thibaulti (n = 21 avian, and n = 181 mammalian; 57.2 %), Anopheles punctipennis (n = 8 and n = 40; 44.0 %), An. quadrimaculatus (n = 1 and n = 23; 35.7 %), Coquillettidia perturbans (n = 3 and n = 3; 46.2 %) and Ae. abserratus (n = 1 and n = 2; 23.1 %). Culex territans obtained blood meals from avian and amphibian hosts (n = 18 and n = 5; 26.6 %). Mixed blood meals originating from both avian and mammalian hosts were identified in An. quadrimaculatus (n = 1), and Cx. territans (n = 2). Our findings indicate that wood thrush, tufted titmouse, and a few other avian species serve as hosts for mosquitoes, and likely contribute to amplification of EEEV. Our study supports the role of Cs. morsitans in enzootic transmission of EEEV among avian species. Culex territans will seek blood from multiple vertebrate classes, suggesting that this species may contribute to epizootic transmission of the virus. Our findings support roles for Cq. perturbans and An. quadrimaculatus as epidemic/epizootic vectors to humans, horses, and white-tailed deer. Despite its abundance, the potential of Ae. thibaulti to serve as a "bridge vector" for EEEV remains unclear in the absence of any definitive knowledge on its competency for the virus. The contribution of white-tailed deer to the dynamics of EEEV transmission is not fully understood, but findings indicate repeated exposure due to frequent feeding by vector competent mosquito species.
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This research study investigates the roles of various mosquito species in transmitting the Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) in Connecticut, USA. The virus, identified in mosquitoes that were collected and then identified to species, primarily transmits between a mosquito type and wild birds. This study’s findings reveal that many bird species host these mosquitoes and contribute to the spread of the virus, while various mosquito species were identified as possible transmission vectors to humans, horses, and deer.
Objective and Methodology of the Study
The primary aim of the research was to analyze the associations of different mosquito species with their vertebrate hosts, especially the ones that serve as direct sources of blood meals within transmission foci of EEEV.
Blood-engorged mosquitoes were collected from resting boxes at four established EEEV foci in Connecticut for two years (2010-2011).
The mosquitoes were then classified by species, and the identities of their vertebrate hosts were determined using gene sequences of polymerase chain reaction products.
Findings of the Study
From the collected specimens, hosts of 378 mosquitoes from 12 species were identified.
Certain mosquito species, including Culiseta morsitans, Culex restuans, and Cx. pipiens, exclusively obtained blood meals from bird hosts.
Other species, such as Aedes cinereus, Ae. canadensis, and Ae. stimulans, only received blood meals from mammalian hosts.
Some mosquito species were found to feed freely on both birds and mammals. These include Ae. thibaulti, Anopheles punctipennis, An. quadrimaculatus, Coquillettidia perturbans, and Ae. abserratus.
Additionally, mixed blood meals from both birds and mammals were identified in An. quadrimaculatus and Cx. territans.
These findings highlight that species like wood thrush and tufted titmouse among others serve as hosts for mosquitoes and contribute to the amplification of EEEV.
Implications of the Findings
The research supports the role of the mosquito species Cs. morsitans in enzootic transmission of EEEV among bird species.
Moreover, it was suggested that Culex territans, due to its feeding habits on multiple classes of vertebrates, may contribute to epizootic transmission of the virus.
Similarly, Cq. perturbans and An. quadrimaculatus are proposed as epidemic/epizootic vectors because they can transmit the virus to humans, horses, and deer.
The role of Ae. thibaulti in EEEV transmission is indefinite without any definite knowledge of its competency for the virus.
The contribution of white-tailed deer to the transmission dynamic of EEEV is unclear, however, the research points towards frequent exposure due to repeated feeding by vectors.
Cite This Article
APA
Shepard JJ, Andreadis TG, Thomas MC, Molaei G.
(2016).
Host associations of mosquitoes at eastern equine encephalitis virus foci in Connecticut, USA.
Parasit Vectors, 9(1), 474.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-016-1765-1
Department of Environmental Sciences, and Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA.
Andreadis, Theodore G
Department of Environmental Sciences, and Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA.
Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College Street, P.O. Box 208034, New Haven, CT, 06520-8034, USA.
Thomas, Michael C
Department of Environmental Sciences, and Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA.
Molaei, Goudarz
Department of Environmental Sciences, and Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA. Goudarz.Molaei@ct.gov.
Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College Street, P.O. Box 208034, New Haven, CT, 06520-8034, USA. Goudarz.Molaei@ct.gov.
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