Altered response to DEET repellent after infection of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) with sindbis virus
Autor(es): Qualls, Whitney A.; Day, Jonathan F.; Xue, Rui-De; Bowers, Doria F.
Resumo: To determine whether a Sindbis virus (family Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus, SINV) infection in Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) affected its response to the repellent DEET, we orally exposed Ae. aegypti to an artificial bloodmeal containing SINV or diluent and then allowed to feed on a 10% sucrose suspension containing 3% DEET. When tested seven or more days after the initial bloodmeal, although none of the diluent-exposed mosquitoes fed on the DEET-sucrose suspension, at least 60% of the SINV-exposed mosquitoes fed on the suspension. When legs from the SINV-exposed mosquitoes were tested to determine dissemination status, 89% of those that fed on the DEET-sucrose suspension contained virus. In contrast, only 34% of the nonfeeders had a disseminated infection. When offered a choice between sucrose with or without DEET, a significantly higher percentage of the SINV-exposed mosquitoes than the control mosquitoes fed on the sucrose containing 3% DEET. Together, these results indicate that mosquitoes with a disseminated SINV infection may be less responsive to DEET than uninfected mosquitoes. Therefore, repellent use may be less effective in deterring infected mosquitoes from biting than previously believed.
Palavras-Chave: Dissemination; Behavior; Olfaction; Arbovirus
Imprenta: Journal of Medical Entomology, v. 48, n. 6, p. 1226-1230, 2011
Identificador do objeto digital: 10.1603/ME10163
Descritores: Aedes aegypti - Repellent ; Aedes aegypti - Public health
Data de publicação: 2011
