Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) as a potential West Nile virus vector in Tucson, Arizona: Blood meal analysis indicates feeding on both humans and birds

Zinser, Margaret; Ramberg, Frank B.; Willott, Elizabeth

doi:10.1673/031.004.2001

Cited by 43 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 7 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…These results are compatible with other studies on the host-feeding patterns of Cx. quinquefasciatus from south India, 44 Tucson, Arizona, 45 western Kenya, 47 southwestern Virginia, 48 and Sao Palo, Brazil, 49 but contrast with a recent study in Harris County, Texas, where only 0.4% of engorged specimens contained human-derived blood meals, despite the fact that humans are the most abundant large mammal in the county. 46 The relative paucity of human cases in Harris County, Texas, was interpreted that people in the study area were less exposed to mosquitoes during summer as they reside indoors in air-conditioned facilities during the peak of mosquito activity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

“…quinquefasciatus on a diversity of avian and mammalian hosts ( N = 34), consistent with the results of previous studies. [39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46] Nevertheless, the actual ratio of avian and mammalian feedings varied considerably among various geographic sites. Human-derived blood meals constituted 1.9% of all vertebrate-derived blood meals, indicating that Cx.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Vector-Host Interactions Governing Epidemiology of West Nile Virus in Southern California

Molaei¹,

Cummings²,

Su³

et al. 2010

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Southern California remains an important focus of West Nile virus (WNV) activity, with persistently elevated incidence after invasion by the virus in 2003 and subsequent amplification to epidemic levels in 2004. Eco-epidemiological studies of vectors-hosts-pathogen interactions are of paramount importance for better understanding of the transmission dynamics of WNV and other emerging mosquito-borne arboviruses. We investigated vector-host interactions and host-feeding patterns of 531 blood-engorged mosquitoes in four competent mosquito vectors by using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method targeting mitochondrial DNA to identify vertebrate hosts of blood-fed mosquitoes. Diagnostic testing by cell culture, real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR, and immunoassays were used to examine WNV infection in blood-fed mosquitoes, mosquito pools, dead birds, and mammals. Prevalence of WNV antibodies among wild birds was estimated by using a blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Analyses of engorged Culex quinquefasciatus revealed that this mosquito species acquired 88.4% of the blood meals from avian and 11.6% from mammalian hosts, including humans. Similarly, Culex tarsalis fed 82% on birds and 18% on mammals. Culex erythrothorax fed on both birds (59%) and mammals (41%). In contrast, Culex stigmatosoma acquired all blood meals from avian hosts. House finches and a few other mostly passeriform birds served as the main hosts for the blood-seeking mosquitoes. Evidence of WNV infection was detected in mosquito pools, wild birds, dead birds, and mammals, including human fatalities during the study period. Our results emphasize the important role of house finches and several other passeriform birds in the maintenance and amplification of WNV in southern California, with Cx. quinquefasciatus acting as both the principal enzootic and “bridge vector” responsible for the spillover of WNV to humans. Other mosquito species, such as Cx. tarsalis and Cx. stigmatosoma, are important but less widely distributed, and also contribute to spatial and temporal transmission of WNV in southern California.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vector-Host Interactions Governing Epidemiology of West Nile Virus in Southern California

Molaei¹,

Cummings²,

Su³

et al. 2010

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…quinquefasciatus can feed on mammals and birds, the relative proportion of preferred host order varies greatly among studies and vertebrate availability. 28,31,56,57 Knowledge of local diet preferences specific to Galápagos is critical to determine which vertebrate species would most likely be affected.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

West Nile Virus Vector Competency of Culex quinquefasciatus Mosquitoes in the Galápagos Islands

Eastwood

Kramer²,

Goodman³

et al. 2011

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. The mosquito-transmitted pathogen West Nile virus (WNV) is not yet present in the Galápagos Archipelago of Ecuador. However, concern exists for fragile endemic island fauna after population decreases in several North American bird species and pathology in certain reptiles. We examined WNV vector competency of a Galápagos strain of mosquito ( Culex quinquefasciatus Say). Field specimens were tested for their capacity to transmit the WN02-1956 strain of WNV after incubation at 27°C or 30°C. Rates of infection, dissemination, and transmission all increased with days post-exposure to WNV, and the highest rates were observed at 28 days. Infection rates peaked at 59% and transmission rates peaked at 44% (of mosquitoes tested). Vector efficiency increased after day 14. Rates of infection but not of transmission were significantly influence by temperature. No vertical transmission was detectable. We demonstrate that Galápagos Cx. quinquefasciatus are competent WNV vectors, and therefore should be considered an animal and public health risk for the islands and controlled wherever possible.

show abstract

“…quinquefasciatus blood meals were obtained from humans, 32% from birds, and the remainder from domestic mammals or mixed bird/mammal sources. 28 Recent studies of Cx. quinquefasciatus blood-feeding behavior in other parts of the United States have found that 52.5% of feeds were mammalian (0.4% human) in Harris County, TX, 20 11.6% mammalian (1.9% human) in southern California, 14 and 40.1% mammalian (7% human) in East Baton Rouge, LA.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Entomologic Investigations during an Outbreak of West Nile Virus Disease in Maricopa County, Arizona, 2010

Godsey

Burkhalter²,

Young³

et al. 2012

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Entomologic investigations were conducted during an intense outbreak of West Nile virus (WNV) disease in Maricopa County, Arizona during July 31-August 9, 2010. The investigations compared the East Valley outbreak area, and a demographically similar control area in northwestern metropolitan Phoenix where no human cases were reported. Five mosquito species were identified in each area, and species composition was similar in both areas. Significantly more Culex quinquefasciatus females were collected by gravid traps at Outbreak sites (22.2 per trap night) than at control sites (8.9 per trap night), indicating higher Cx. quinquefasciatus abundance in the outbreak area. Twenty-eight WNV TaqMan reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction-positive mosquito pools were identified, including 24 of Cx. quinquefasciatus, 3 of Psorophora columbiae, and 1 of Culex sp. However, Cx. quinquefasciatus WNV infection rates did not differ between outbreak and control sites. At outbreak sites, 30 of 39 engorged Cx. quinquefasciatus had fed on birds, 8 of 39 on humans, and 1 of 39 on a lizard. At control sites, 20 of 20 identified blood meals were from birds. Data suggest that Cx. quinquefasciatus was the primary enzootic and epidemic vector of this outbreak. The most important parameters in the outbreak were vector abundance and blood meal analysis, which suggested more frequent contact between Cx. quinquefasciatus and human hosts in the outbreak area compared with the control area.

show abstract

Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) as a potential West Nile virus vector in Tucson, Arizona: Blood meal analysis indicates feeding on both humans and birds

Cited by 43 publications

References 7 publications

Vector-Host Interactions Governing Epidemiology of West Nile Virus in Southern California

Vector-Host Interactions Governing Epidemiology of West Nile Virus in Southern California

West Nile Virus Vector Competency of Culex quinquefasciatus Mosquitoes in the Galápagos Islands

Entomologic Investigations during an Outbreak of West Nile Virus Disease in Maricopa County, Arizona, 2010

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About