Abstract
BackgroundTemperature, humidity, vision, and particularly odor, are external cues that play essential roles to mosquito blood feeding and oviposition. Entomological and behavioral studies employ well-established methods to evaluate mosquito attraction or repellency and to identify the source of the blood meal. Despite the efficacy of such methods, the costs involved in the production or acquisition of all parts, components and the chemical reagents involved are unaffordable for most researchers from poor countries. Thus, a simple and relatively low-cost method capable of evaluating mosquito preferences and the blood volume ingested is desirable.Principal FindingsBy using Evans blue (EB) vital dye and few standard laboratory supplies, we developed and validated a system capable of evaluating mosquito’s choice between two different host sources of blood. EB-injected and PBS-injected mice submitted to a number of situations were placed side by side on the top of a rounded recipient covered with tulle fabric and containing Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Homogenates from engorged mosquitoes clearly revealed the blood source (EB- or PBS-injected host), either visually or spectrometrically. This method was able to estimate the number of engorded mosquitoes, the volume of blood ingested, the efficacy of a commercial repellent and the attractant effects of black color and human sweat.SignificanceDespite the obvious limitations due to its simplicity and to the dependence of a live source of blood, the present method can be used to assess a number of host variables (diet, aging, immunity, etc) and optimized for several aspects of mosquito blood feeding and vector-host interactions. Thus, it is proposed as an alternative to field studies, and it could be used for initial screenings of chemical compound candidates for repellents or attractants, since it replicates natural conditions of exposure to mosquitoes in a laboratory environment.
Highlights
Several external cues are involved in mosquito behavior and contribute to mating, blood feeding and oviposition
Despite the obvious limitations due to its simplicity and to the dependence of a live source of blood, the present method can be used to assess a number of host variables and optimized for several aspects of mosquito blood feeding and vector-host interactions
Evans blue (EB) is a bis-azo compound originally employed in tissue staining and other biomedical applications by Herbert M
Summary
Several external cues are involved in mosquito behavior and contribute to mating, blood feeding and oviposition. Humidity and vision play essential roles in the mosquito’s life cycle, odor seems the most important variable by far for medium-to-long range attraction [1,2,3,4]. Olfactory signals are essential stimuli for behavioral features and hostseeking by hematophagous mosquitoes. Through their sensitive olfactory organs, mosquitoes are able to choose more attractive hosts over less attractive ones. Temperature, humidity, vision, and odor, are external cues that play essential roles to mosquito blood feeding and oviposition. Entomological and behavioral studies employ well-established methods to evaluate mosquito attraction or repellency and to identify the source of the blood meal. A simple and relatively low-cost method capable of evaluating mosquito preferences and the blood volume ingested is desirable
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