Mixed blood feeding by the malaria vectors in the Anopheles punctulatus complex (Diptera: Culicidae).

Abstract

Using a refined indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to identify serum proteins of different host species, the blood meal sources and the amount of multiple blood feeding among heterologous host species were investigated for members of the Anopheles punctulatus complex in Papua, New Guinea. Differences in host preferences were found among members of the complex; A. punctulatus and A. koliensis were more anthropophilic than A. farauti. Blood from two or more hosts species was detected in 5.2% of the engorged anophelines captured outdoors and in 4.3% of those captured indoors. Based on ABO blood group markers on human red blood cells, 13% of human fed anophelines captured indoors in experiments with selected mother-child pairs contained blood of both individuals. A model is presented that predicts the probability of a mosquito being interrupted while blood feeding. The epidemiological implications of the findings are discussed.