Abstract
The blood-feeding patterns of mosquitoes are directly linked to the spread of pathogens that they transmit. Efficient identification of arthropod vector bloodmeal hosts can identify the diversity of vertebrate species potentially involved in disease transmission cycles. While molecular bloodmeal analyses rely on sequencing of cytochrome b (cyt b) or cytochrome oxidase 1 gene PCR products, recently developed bloodmeal host identification based on high resolution melting (HRM) analyses of cyt b PCR products is more cost-effective. To resolve the diverse vertebrate hosts that mosquitoes may potentially feed on in sub-Saharan Africa, we utilized HRM profiles of both cyt b and 16S ribosomal RNA genes. Among 445 blood-fed Aedeomyia, Aedes, Anopheles, Culex, Mansonia, and Mimomyia mosquitoes from Kenya’s Lake Victoria and Lake Baringo regions where many mosquito-transmitted pathogens are endemic, we identified 33 bloodmeal hosts including humans, eight domestic animal species, six peridomestic animal species and 18 wildlife species. This resolution of vertebrate host species was only possible by comparing profiles of both cyt b and 16S markers, as melting profiles of some pairs of species were similar for either marker but not both. We identified mixed bloodmeals in a Culex pipiens from Mbita that had fed on a goat and a human and in two Mansonia africana mosquitoes from Baringo that each had fed on a rodent (Arvicanthis niloticus) in addition to a human or baboon. We further detected Sindbis and Bunyamwera viruses in blood-fed mosquito homogenates by Vero cell culture and RT-PCR in Culex, Aedeomyia, Anopheles and Mansonia mosquitoes from Baringo that had fed on humans and livestock. The observed mosquito feeding on both arbovirus amplifying hosts (including sheep and goats) and possible arbovirus reservoirs (birds, porcupine, baboons, rodents) informs arbovirus disease epidemiology and vector control strategies.
Highlights
Arthropod vectored pathogens contribute to the greatest diversity of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that significantly impact human health and livestock-based food security in developing countries and threaten human and livestock health in developed countries [1]
Peña et al (2012) developed an improved, cost-effective and rapid approach based on high resolution melting analysis (HRM) of cytochrome b Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) products to identify vertebrate bloodmeals of triatomine bugs (Rhodnius and Triatoma species) in the Caribbean region of Colombia [7]
Blood-fed Mansonia africana was abundant in all sampling areas, while Ae. aegypti (0.93%) sampled at Salabani and Ae. vittatus (0.93%) sampled from Ruko wildlife conservancy were the least abundant blood-fed species from Baringo
Summary
Arthropod vectored pathogens contribute to the greatest diversity of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that significantly impact human health and livestock-based food security in developing countries and threaten human and livestock health in developed countries [1]. Arthropod disease vectors may feed on a variety of vertebrate hosts, including wildlife that may represent unknown pathogen reservoirs, of known NTDs, and of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) [2]. Bloodmeal identification of field-collected vectors is pivotal to disentangling disease transmission dynamics, identifying ecological reservoirs during inter-epidemic periods, and developing appropriate disease control and response strategies [3]. Peña et al (2012) developed an improved, cost-effective and rapid approach based on high resolution melting analysis (HRM) of cytochrome b (cyt b) Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) products to identify vertebrate bloodmeals of triatomine bugs (Rhodnius and Triatoma species) in the Caribbean region of Colombia [7]. Our preliminary analysis found that HRM analyses of these cyt b amplicons alone could not reliably differentiate the diversity of potential mosquito bloodmeal host species in East Africa, where humans, livestock and wildlife are often in close proximity
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