Abstract
Studies were conducted to determine the selection of humans, chickens and rabbits by Culicidae in three different environments in the province of Chaco, Argentina. Mosquitoes were collected fortnightly using cylindrical metal traps containing animal bait (chickens and rabbits). The mosquitoes were collected between June 2001-May 2002. During the same period and with the same frequency, mosquitoes biting the human operators of the traps were collected during the first 15 min of exposure within different time intervals: from 09:00 am-11:00 am, 01:00 pm-03:00 pm, 05:00 pm-07:00 pm and 09:00 pm-10:00 pm. A total of 19,430 mosquitoes of 49 species belonging to 10 genera were collected. Culex species mainly selected chicken bait and Wyeomyia species selected rabbit bait. Ochlerotatus and Psorophora species were more abundant in rabbit-baited traps. Anopheles triannulatus, Coquillettidia nigricans, Ochlerotatus scapularis, Mansonia titillans and Psorophora albigenu showed a strong attraction for human bait. The Anopheles, Coquillettidia, Culex and Mansonia species were more active between 05:00 pm-09:00 pm, while Ochlerotatus, Psorophora, Haemagogus and Wyeomyia were most active from 09:00 am-07:00 pm. This study provides additional information about the biology and ecology of arbovirus vectors in Chaco.
Highlights
The degree of association between vectors and their hosts is an important indicator of the intensity of disease transmission (Dye 1992)
Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) and West Nile virus (WNV) were detected and there was a seroprevalence of 13% for alphaviruses, with the Pixuna and Rio Negro viruses being responsible for these infections (Beskow et al 2007)
Cx. chidesteri and Cx. quinquefasciatus were more likely to feed on chicken bait (OR (1/2) = 3.5 and 75.3, respectively, p < 0.0001]
Summary
The degree of association between vectors and their hosts is an important indicator of the intensity of disease transmission (Dye 1992). Few studies addressing the host selection of mosquitoes have been conducted in Argentina. Hack et al (1978) documented that mosquitoes were attracted to humans and Almirón and Brewer (1995) examined the roles of chickens, rabbits and turtles as hosts. Recent studies examining human sera in the provinces of Chaco and Corrientes revealed high rates of infection with flaviviruses (26%). Human antibodies against St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) and West Nile virus (WNV) were detected and there was a seroprevalence of 13% for alphaviruses, with the Pixuna and Rio Negro viruses being responsible for these infections (Beskow et al 2007). Pisano et al (2007) isolated the Pixuna and Rio Negro viruses from mosquitoes captured in Monte Alto and Resistencia (Chaco) between December 2003April 2004. The mosquitoes examined by these authors belonged to the Culex, Ochlerotatus and Psorophora genera. Diaz et al (2008) detected WNVs in birds (8/82)
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