Avian malaria parasites in the last supper: identifying encounters between parasites and the invasive Asian mosquito tiger and native mosquito species in Italy.

Josué Martínez-De La Puente,Daniele Arnoldi,Ramón Soriguer,Fabrizio Montarsi,Gioia Capelli,Joaquín Muñoz,Jordi Figuerola,Annapaola Rizzoli

doi:10.1186/s12936-015-0571-0

Abstract

BackgroundThe invasive Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus has dramatically expanded its distribution range, being catalogued as one of the world’s 100 worst invasive alien species. As vectors of pathogens, Ae. albopictus may create novel epidemiological scenarios in the invaded areas.MethodsHere, the frequency of encounters of Ae. albopictus with the avian malaria parasite Plasmodium and the related Haemoproteus was studied in an area with established populations in northeastern Italy and compared with those from four native mosquito species, Anopheles maculipennis s.l., Culex hortensis, Culex pipiens, and Ochlerotatus caspius. The abdomens of mosquitoes with a recent blood meal were used to identify both the blood meal source and the parasites harboured.ResultsAedes albopictus had a clear antropophilic behaviour while An. maculipennis and Oc. caspius fed mainly on non-human mammals. Birds were the most common hosts of Cx. pipiens and reptiles of Cx. hortensis. Parasites were isolated from three mosquito species, with Cx. pipiens (30%) showing the highest parasite prevalence followed by Cx. hortensis (9%) and Ae. albopictus (5%).ConclusionsThese results are the first identifying the avian malaria parasites harboured by mosquitoes in Italy and represent the first evidence supporting that, although Ae. albopictus could be involved in the transmission of avian malaria parasites, the risk of avian malaria parasite spread by this invasive mosquito in Europe would be minimal.

Highlights

The invasive Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus has dramatically expanded its distribution range, being catalogued as one of the world’s 100 worst invasive alien species
DNA was used to identify the presence of Plasmodium and Haemoproteus parasites based on the amplification of a fragment of the mitochondrial Cytochrome b gene [19]
Avian Plasmodium and Haemoproteus parasites were isolated from three different mosquito species with clear differences in parasite prevalence

Summary

Introduction

The invasive Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus has dramatically expanded its distribution range, being catalogued as one of the world’s 100 worst invasive alien species. Ae. albopictus may create novel epidemiological scenarios in the invaded areas. Establishment of exotic mosquitoes to new areas may create novel epidemiological scenarios with potential dramatic consequences for wildlife and human health [1]. The invasive Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus, indigenous to Southeast Asia, islands of the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean, has expanded its distribution range to Africa, Europe and the Americas [2,3]. Aedes albopictus is vector of a diversity of pathogens including flaviviruses (e.g., West Nile virus, Dengue virus), alphaviruses (e.g., Chikungunya virus), and other viruses and filarial worms [5,6].

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Results

Conclusion