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. 2008 Nov;79(5):809-15.

Blood feeding patterns of potential arbovirus vectors of the genus culex targeting ectothermic hosts

Nathan D Burkett-Cadena  1 , Sean P Graham, Hassan K Hassan, Craig Guyer, Micky D Eubanks, Charles R Katholi, Thomas R Unnasch
Affiliations

Blood feeding patterns of potential arbovirus vectors of the genus culex targeting ectothermic hosts

Nathan D Burkett-Cadena et al. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2008 Nov.

Abstract

Reptiles and amphibians constitute a significant portion of vertebrate biomass in terrestrial ecosystems and may be important arbovirus reservoirs. To investigate mosquito preference for ectothermic hosts, feeding indices were calculated from data collected in Tuskegee National Forest, Alabama, USA. Four mosquito species fed upon ectothermic hosts, with Culex peccator and Cx. territans feeding primarily upon ectotherms. These two species appeared to target distinct species with little overlap in host choice. Culex peccator was a generalist in its feeding patterns within ectotherms, and Cx. territans appeared to be a more specialized feeder. Six of eleven ectotherm species fed upon by Cx. territans were fed upon more often than predicted based upon abundance. Spring peepers were highly preferred over other host species by Cx. territans. Blood meals taken from each host species varied temporally, with some hosts being targeted fairly evenly throughout the season and others being fed upon in seasonal peaks.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Temporal distribution of blood-engorged and non-engorged females of Cx. territans and Cx. peccator from Tuskegee National Forest, Macon Co., AL, 2007. Data are normalized for collection events. Panel A: Normalized collections of blood engorged and non-engorged Cx. territans. Panel B: Normalized collections of blood engorged and non-engorged Cx. peccator.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Feeding indices of ectothermic hosts of Cx. peccator from Tuskegee National Forest, AL, 2007. Feeding indices were calculated as described in Materials and Methods. In each panel, the feeding indices are shown on a log2 scale, so that species with feeding indices greater than 1 are indicated as positive bars and those with indices less than 1 as negative bars. Asterisks highlight species where the feeding index value was significantly different than 1.0 (p < 0.05). Panel A: Feeding indices calculated based upon raw counts from VES of host abundance. Panel B: Feeding indices calculated based upon biomass-adjusted visual encounter surveys of host abundance.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Feeding indices of ectothermic hosts of Cx. territans from Tuskegee National Forest. Feeding indices were calculated as described in Materials and Methods. In each panel, the feeding indices are shown on a log2 scale, so that species with feeding indices greater than 1 are indicated as positive bars and those with indices less than 1 as negative bars. Asterisks highlight species where the feeding index value was significantly different than 1.0 (p < 0.05). Panel A: Feeding indices calculated based upon raw counts from VES of host abundance. Panel B: Feeding indices calculated based upon biomass-adjusted visual encounter surveys of host abundance. Panel C: Feeding indices calculated based upon calling survey data. NI = Not included in analysis (non-vocalizing species).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Blood meals, total abundance and total biomass from ectotherm hosts of Cx. peccator and Cx. territans from Tuskegee National Forest, AL, 2007.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Temporal distribution of blood meals taken from preferred ectotherm hosts of Cx. peccator and Cx. territans from Tuskegee National Forest, AL, 2007.
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