Abstract
BackgroundDengue is an arbovirus disease transmitted by two Aedes mosquitoes: Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. Virgin females of these two species generally show a bimodal and diurnal pattern of activity, with early morning and late afternoon peaks. Although some studies on the flight activity of virgin, inseminated and blood-fed Ae. aegypti females have been carried out under laboratory conditions, little is known about the effects of such physiological states on the locomotor activity of Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti females. The aim of this study was to analyze, under laboratory conditions, the effects of insemination and blood-feeding on the locomotor activity of Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti females under LD 12:12, at 25°C.MethodsBoth Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti females were obtained from established laboratory colonies. Control groups were represented by virgin/unfed Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti females. Experiments were conducted under laboratory conditions, using an activity monitor that registers individual activity every thirty minutes.ResultsVirgin/unfed Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti females showed a diurnal and bimodal pattern of locomotor activity, with peaks at early morning and late afternoon. Insemination and blood-feeding significantly decreased the locomotor activity of Ae. aegypti females, but inseminated/blood-fed Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus females showed a similar significant decrease on the locomotor activity compared to virgin/unfed females.ConclusionsThis study is the first demonstration of the effects of insemination and blood-feeding on the locomotor activity of Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti females under artificial conditions. Data suggest that Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti females respond in different ways to physiological status changes and such divergence between these two dengue vectors, associated with several ecological differences, could be related to the greater dengue vectorial capacity of Ae. aegypti in Americas in comparison to Ae. albopictus.
Highlights
Dengue is an arbovirus disease transmitted by two Aedes mosquitoes: Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus
In Brazil, as well as in a few countries, Ae. albopictus is considered a potential vector of dengue and other arboviruses, such as yellow fever and Chikungunyia [3,4,5]. Rhythms in behaviours, such as flight, mating, blood-feeding and oviposition are observed in mosquitoes, which restrict their activities to specific hours of the day. This is due to an endogenous circadian clock that can be synchronized to external cues, such as light, temperature and food, among others [6]
Under laboratory conditions, it has been reported that parasite-vector interactions, such as dengue virus- Ae. aegypti infection, as well as genetic mutations which denote insecticide resistance by the vector do not change the pattern of activity of Ae. aegypti, but increase the locomotor activity of females [24,30]
Summary
Dengue is an arbovirus disease transmitted by two Aedes mosquitoes: Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus Virgin females of these two species generally show a bimodal and diurnal pattern of activity, with early morning and late afternoon peaks. Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus 1762) is considered the main dengue vector in the world and has a wide distribution in tropical countries. Rhythms in behaviours, such as flight, mating, blood-feeding and oviposition are observed in mosquitoes, which restrict their activities to specific hours of the day. This is due to an endogenous circadian clock that can be synchronized to external cues, such as light, temperature and food, among others [6]. The host-seeking behaviour can be modified by host-associated stimuli [10]
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