Host-feeding pattern of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in heterogeneous landscapes of South Andaman, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

Abstract

Mosquito foraging behavior is a determinant of host-vector contact and has an impact on the risk of arboviral epidemics. Therefore, blood-feeding patterns is a useful tool for assessing the role in pathogen transmission by vector mosquitoes. Competent vectors of dengue and chikungunya viz. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are widely prevalent in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago. Considering the vector potential, medical importance of both these mosquito species and lack of information on host-feeding patterns, blood meal analysis of both these vector mosquitoes was undertaken. Biogents Sentinel traps were used for sampling blooded mosquitoes, for identifying the source of blood meal by agar gel-precipitin test. We identified vertebrate source of 147 and 104 blood meals in Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus from heterogeneous landscapes in South Andaman district. Results revealed that Ae. aegypti (88 %) and Ae. albopictus (49 %) fed on human and a small proportion on mammals and fowls, indicative of predominance of anthropophilism. Ae. aegypti predominantly fed on human blood (94.2 %-densely built urban, 89.8 %-low vegetation coverage, and 78.3 %-medium vegetation coverage). Anthropophilism in Ae. albopictus was maximal in densely built urban (90.5 %) and progressively decreased from low vegetation-vegetation/forested continuum (66.7, 36.4, and 8.7 %), indicating plasticity in feeding across these landscapes. Epidemiological significance of the findings is discussed.

Zika and chikungunya: mosquito‐borne viruses in a changing world

“…albopictus can be anthropophagic, especially in urban environments. Humans are often the primary host, followed by domesticated mammals . In the United States, Singapore, Thailand, metropolitan Barcelona, and suburban Cameroon, Ae.…”

Genes and Odors Underlying the Recent Evolution of Mosquito Preference for Humans

“…Locations and references for subsp. aegypti (top row): Hawaii, USA [42]; Florida, USA [43], Pate, Kenya [44], Andaman/Nicobar Islands [45]; rural Thailand [46, 47]. References for subsp.…”

Defining the risk of Zika and chikungunya virus transmission in human population centers of the eastern United States

“…albopictus must bite humans at least 40% of the time. The Asian tiger mosquito's vectorial capacity is persistently questioned because the propensity for biting humans versus other vertebrates varies widely, as the species appears to opportunistically bite the most available vertebrates [19,20,26,[28][29][30][34][35][36][37]. We show that while a higher probability of human host-use is associated with greater R 0 , increasing the proportion of bites from humans above 40% increased potential for local transmission and resulting human disease.…”

“…Studies demonstrate that propensity for human biting by Ae. albopictus across its invasive range varies widely and that the species appears to opportunistically bite whatever birds or mammals most readily available [18,20,26,28,30,34,35,71], although some studies indicate a human preference [37]. We assumed that of the total number of mosquito bites per day a certain proportion, P h , are on humans and 1-P h are on alternate hosts.…”

“…albopictus is generally considered less important than Ae. aegypti for transmitting viral infections to humans because it has been shown to feed on a range of vertebrate species beyond human [18][19][20]. An Ae.…”