Abstract
There is a steady increase in the contact between humans and wildlife, brought about by encroachment, destruction of natural forests, climatic and environmental changes. Mosquitoes get exposed to hosts and pathogens; creating possibilities for new disease patterns. Therefore, the identification of blood-meal sources is important to determine the linkages between hosts and vectors. Engorged mosquitoes were collected in Zika forest (Uganda) for a period of 12 months using carbon dioxide (CO2)-baited light traps. Total genomic DNA was extracted from the abdominal contents of the mosquitoes and the diagnostic regions of the mitochondrial genes, cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) and cytochrome b (cytb) sequenced. The sequences were subsequently blasted in the GenBank. Sequence analyses revealed that feeds were derived from mammalian and avian hosts. Blood-meal sources from Aedes africanus (Theobold) examined were entirely human. There were significant differences between host species from which the mosquito species fed (Krusakal Wallis test, χ2 = 19.118, df = 5, p = 0.018). Several mosquitoes were considered as potential bridge vectors for a number of arboviruses and other diseases have been collected from the forest. Taking of mammalian origin blood-meals, including humans, may facilitate exposure to new pathogens and disease patterns. Key words: Blood-meal, bridge vectors, cytochrome oxidase sub unit I, cytochrome b, Entebbe.
Highlights
IntroductionMosquitoes are bridge vectors of emerging and re-emerging parasitic (Apperson et al, 2002; Kent and Norris, 2005; Diallo et al, 2012) and arboviral pathogens causing infections including West Nile virus (Apperson et al, 2004; Turell et al, 2005; Hamer et al, 2008) and Chikungunya (Diallo et al, 1999; 2012) responsible for millions of infections and deaths of humans and animals globally
This study has shown the first molecular analysis of mosquito blood-meal sources from Zika Forest with two important findings
From the host variety revealed, the majority of the blood meals were from human sources
Summary
Mosquitoes are bridge vectors of emerging and re-emerging parasitic (Apperson et al, 2002; Kent and Norris, 2005; Diallo et al, 2012) and arboviral pathogens causing infections including West Nile virus (Apperson et al, 2004; Turell et al, 2005; Hamer et al, 2008) and Chikungunya (Diallo et al, 1999; 2012) responsible for millions of infections and deaths of humans and animals globally. The basis for bloodmeal host’s choice, a consequence of a mosquito feeding and pathogen transmission in the process, currently remains unclear. Despite their relevance to public and veterinary health, knowledge of mosquito feeding patterns in Uganda is still poor
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