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Identification of reptilian and amphibian blood meals from mosquitoes in an eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus focus in central Alabama.
Abstract: Uranotaenia sapphirina, Culex erraticus, and Cx. peccator were collected in an enzootic eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) virus focus in central Alabama (Tuskegee National Forest) from 2001 to 2003 and analyzed for virus as well as host selection. EEE virus was detected in each species every year except 2003, when pools of Cx. peccator were negative. Most (97%) of the 130 Cx. peccator blood meals identified were from ectothermic hosts; 3% were from birds. Among blood meals from reptiles (approximately 75% of the total), 81% were from Agkistrodon piscivorus (cottonmouth); all amphibian blood meals (approximately 25%) were from Rana spp. with > 50% taken from the bullfrog R. catesbeiana. Host identifications were made from 131 of 197 Cx. erraticus, but only 3 (2%) were derived from ectothermic species. Identification of Ur. sapphirina blood meals proved difficult and only 2 of 35 hosts were determined. Both were from R. catesbeiana. Ectothermic species are possible EEE virus reservoirs in the southeastern United States where species such as Cx. peccator and Ur. sapphirina occur with large, diverse reptilian, amphibian, and avian populations such as those at the Tuskegee site.
Publication Date: 2004-09-24 PubMed ID: 15381805PubMed Central: PMC1351276 The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- P.H.S.
Summary
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The research article reports on a study conducted between 2001 and 2003 in central Alabama (Tuskegee National Forest) investigating the presence of the Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) virus in three species of mosquitoes and the hosts from which they draw their meals. The study found that reptiles and amphibians could potentially act as reservoirs for the EEE virus in the area.
Objective and Method
- The researchers collected and studied three species of mosquitoes; Uranotaenia sapphirina, Culex erraticus, and Cx. peccator from an EEE virus focus in central Alabama.
- The mosquitoes were analyzed for the presence of the EEE virus as well as to understand their host selection, i.e., from where they draw their blood meals.
Findings
- The EEE virus was detected in all the three species of mosquitoes each year from 2001 to 2003, except in 2003 when samples from the Cx. peccator species were found negative.
- Around 97% of the 130 Cx. peccator blood meals identified were from ectothermic (cold-blooded) hosts; with only 3% being from birds.
- Of these blood meals procured from reptiles (which comprised roughly 75% of the total), 81% were from a species of snake called Agkistrodon piscivorus (commonly known as the cottonmouth).
- All amphibian blood meals (which comprised approximately 25% of the total) were identified as being from Rana spp., with over half being from the bullfrog R. catesbeiana.
- The researchers were able to identify the source of 131 out of 197 Cx. erraticus meals, but only 3 (2%) were from ectothermic species.
- Identifying the sources of blood meals from the Ur. sapphirina species proved difficult, and the researchers could only identify 2 out of 35 hosts – both from R. catesbeiana.
Conclusions
- From their findings, the researchers conclude that ectothermic species (or cold-blooded animals) such as reptiles and amphibians could possibly act as reservoirs (carriers) of the EEE virus in places like southeastern United States.
- This could particularly be the case in areas where mosquito species such as Cx. peccator and Ur. sapphirina are found in large numbers, along with diverse reptilian, amphibian, and bird species – such as those found at the study site in Tuskegee.
Cite This Article
APA
Cupp EW, Zhang D, Yue X, Cupp MS, Guyer C, Sprenger TR, Unnasch TR.
(2004).
Identification of reptilian and amphibian blood meals from mosquitoes in an eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus focus in central Alabama.
Am J Trop Med Hyg, 71(3), 272-276.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849-5413, USA. ecupp@acesag.auburn.edu
MeSH Terms
- Alabama
- Amphibians / blood
- Amphibians / virology
- Animals
- Blood / virology
- Culicidae / virology
- Disease Reservoirs
- Encephalitis Virus, Eastern Equine / isolation & purification
- Encephalomyelitis, Eastern Equine / transmission
- Feeding Behavior
- Insect Vectors / virology
- Reptiles / blood
- Reptiles / virology
Grant Funding
- R01 AI049724 / NIAID NIH HHS
- R01-AI-49724 / NIAID NIH HHS
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