Effects of host blood meal source on reproductive output, nutrient reserves and gut microbiome of West Nile virus vector Culex quinquefasciatus

Abstract

Female mosquitoes feed on blood from vertebrates, including humans, as a protein source to provision eggs. Through blood feeding, mosquitoes may transmit pathogens to humans and other animals. In diseases like malaria and dengue, humans are the main hosts and mosquitoes that preferentially feed on humans transmit the pathogens. We know relatively less about mosquitoes that switch between different vertebrate hosts and their underlying physiologic to utilize blood from different vertebrate hosts. Our study focuses on the Southern house mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae), a vector that opportunistically feeds on birds and mammals when available, increasing the probability of transmitting bird pathogens to humans. Key factors examined encompassed gut physiology and reproductive fitness associated with switching host blood source. Our results indicate that the gut microbiome of Cx. quinquefasciatus is dynamic in response to switching between food sources and that blood meal source affects her macronutrient stores and reproductive output. This research will help advance our understanding of the effects of host blood source on important life history parameters for this mosquito vector to add to our understanding of the interaction between mosquito vectors and vertebrate hosts.