Autor(es): Jansen, C. C.; Webb, C. E.; Graham, G. C.; Craig, S. B.; Zborowski, P.; Ritchie, S. A.; Russell, R. C.; van den Hurk, A. F.

Resumo: To identify the hosts of mosquitoes collected from urban and peri-urban habitats in eastern Australia, 1,180 blood fed mosquitoes representing 15 species were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and molecular techniques. Four common and epidemiologically important species could be classified according to their host-feeding patterns: Aedes aegypti was anthropophilic, Ae. vigilax was mammalophilic, Culex quinquefasciatus was ornithophilic, and Cx. annulirostris was opportunistic, readily feeding on birds and mammals. Mitochondrial cytochrome b DNA sequence data showed that more than 75% of avian blood meals identified from Cx. annulirostris collected from Brisbane, Newcastle, and Sydney originated from ducks (Order Anseriformes, Family Anatidae). More than 75% of avian blood meals from Cx. quinquefasciatus from Cairns belonged to one of three Passerine species, namely Sphecotheres vieilloti (figbird), Sturnus tristis (common myna), and Philemon buceroides (helmeted friarbird). This study demonstrates associations between vectors in Australia and vertebrate hosts of endemic and exotic arboviruses.

Palavras-Chave: Endemic species; Nucleotide sequence; Cytochrome b; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Data processing; Mitochondria; Vectors; Blood meals; Culex quinquefasciatus; Aedes aegypti; Anatidae; Anseriformes; Sturnus

Imprenta: American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, v. 81, n. 5, p. 849-857, 2009.

Descritores: Aedes aegypti - DNA ; Aedes aegypti - Infectious diseases ; Aedes aegypti - Public health

Data de Publicação: 2009