Effects of Host Blood on Fecundity and Longevity of Female Anopheles Mosquitoes

Abstract

Aim: The effect of Host blood on the fecundity of female Anopheles gambiae sensu lato mosquitoes was studied under normal conditions of 64±2% Relative Humidity and 27±2ºC Temperature.
 Methods: Three-five day old (F1) female Anopheles mosquitoes were transferred into wooden cages (40x40x40 cm) and fed blood from the following sources: man, cattle, chicken, goat, pig and sheep through an artificial feeding membrane. Engorged females were observed and fecundity recorded. The entire experiment was replicated five (5) times.
 Results: From the 1st to 4th gonotropic cycle, mosquitoes fed human blood produced significantly greater (p<0.05) number of eggs (Mean=121.90±1.18, 101.36±1.56, 64.12±1.54 and 29.66±1.69 respectively) than mosquitoes fed other blood meal sources. Across the six (6) blood meal trials (excluding that of sheep), there was a significant reduction (p<0.05) in fecundity from the 1st to 4th gonotropic cycles (1st>2nd>3rd>4th). There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in fecundity between pigs, chicken and sheep. Total mean longevity and total mean fecundity was significantly greater (p<0.05) in mosquitoes fed human and cattle blood than in mosquitoes fed the other blood sources.
 Conclusion: The results showed that blood meal source affects fecundity and longevity of female Anopheles gambiae s. l mosquitoes reared under laboratory conditions and that blood from humans as well as from other domestic animals is suitable for sustaining vectorial capacity in Anopheles gambiae s. l mosquitoes.

Effects of blood meal sources on the biological characteristics of Aedes aegypti and Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae)

“…aegypti with the rate of 93% but this activity feeding has recorded a clear reduction at the rate of 36% for the species Ae. japonicus , however Shehata, 2018 , Chikwendu et al, 2019 reported that Cx. pipiens gave the highest activity rates on feeding on pigeon blood 82.3% followed by feeding on guinea pig blood 79.3% then followed by humans 73.2% whereas the females of the mosquito Anopheles sergentii has recorded the highest rates of activity feeding on human blood 88.1% followed by guinea pig 77.1% then pigeon 76.9%.…”

Blood meal source and mixed blood-feeding influence gut bacterial community composition in Aedes aegypti

“…Such studies may lead to the discovery of novel bacterial species that may limit transmission of vector-borne diseases either by inhibiting pathogen development within the vector or by suppressing vector populations through effects on longevity, fecundity or fertility. Previous studies have shown that host bloodmeal source can have strong effects on mosquito fecundity, fertility and longevity [59][60][61], suggesting the potential for mixed blood meals to produce antagonistic, additive or synergistic effects on epidemiologically relevant life-history traits of the vector.…”

Cost-effectiveness of Precision Guided SIT for Control ofAnopheles gambiaein the Upper River Region, The Gambia

“…The mosquito fecundity, the number of eggs produced per female in their lifetime, is impacted by their rearing conditions (C. D. Christiansen-Jucht et al 2015; C. Christiansen-Jucht et al 2014) and their blood-feeding procedures (Takken, Klowden, and Chambers 1998; Chikwendu, Onekutu, and Ogbonna 2019; de Swart et al 2023). Mosquitoes should be uniformly blood fed, but uncertainties in optimal blood meal source, feeding frequency, and feeding methods make estimating the costs of this important factor imprecise.…”