Abstract
BackgroundThe mosquito Ae. albopictus is usually adapted to the peri-domestic environment and typically breeds outdoors. However, we observed its larvae in most containers within homes in northern peninsular Malaysia. To anticipate the epidemiological implications of this indoor-breeding, we assessed some fitness traits affecting vectorial capacity during colonization process. Specifically, we examined whether Ae. albopictus exhibits increased survival, gonotrophic activity and fecundity due to the potential increase in blood feeding opportunities.Methodology/Principal FindingsIn a series of experiments involving outdoors and indoors breeding populations, we found that Ae. albopictus lives longer in the indoor environment. We also observed increased nighttime biting activity and lifetime fecundity in indoor/domestic adapted females, although they were similar to recently colonized females in body size.Conclusion/SignificanceTaken together these data suggest that accommodation of Ae. albopictus to indoor/domestic environment may increase its lifespan, blood feeding success, nuisance and thus vectorial capacity (both in terms of increased vector-host contacts and vector population density). These changes in the breeding behavior of Ae. albopictus, a potential vector of several human pathogens including dengue viruses, require special attention.
Highlights
The acquisition of indoor-breeding behavior can potentially increase the biting activity of mosquito vectors that opportunistically bite humans outdoors during the day
Given the potentially crucial interactions between reproduction, blood feeding, and vectorial capacity, we examined the gonotrophic activity (GA) and fecundity of Ae. albopictus using females derived from wild mosquitoes collected from outdoor containers in Kampung Teluk Tempoyak and Balik Pulau, Malaysia, with their daughters after they had spent five generations under laboratory conditions
Larval populations were heterogeneous and most developmental stages were present over the five-month period of the survey. As this mosquito typically shows outdoor breeding behavior [34,3,35], the persistence of its larval and pupal stages in indoor containers over a long period suggests that Ae. albopictus is being adapted to the indoor environment
Summary
The acquisition of indoor-breeding behavior can potentially increase the biting activity of mosquito vectors that opportunistically bite humans outdoors during the day. This may have important implications to disease transmission. Native to the Oriental Region and some islands in the Indian Ocean [3], Ae. albopictus has become well-established in the Western hemisphere where it is the second main vector of dengue [4]. It is an important vector of yellow fever and various types of encephalitis virus, as well as a competent vector of at least 23 other arboviruses under laboratory conditions [5,6,7]. We examined whether Ae. albopictus exhibits increased survival, gonotrophic activity and fecundity due to the potential increase in blood feeding opportunities
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