Host attraction and host feeding patterns indicate generalist feeding of Culex pipiens s.s. and Cx. torrentium.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mosquito host feeding patterns are an important factor of the species-specific vector capacity determining pathogen transmission routes. Culex pipiens s.s./Cx. torrentium are competent vectors of several arboviruses, such as West Nile virus and Usutu virus. However, studies on host feeding patterns rarely differentiate the morphologically indistinguishable females.

Methods

We analyzed the host feeding attraction of Cx. pipiens and Cx. torrentium in host-choice studies for bird, mouse, and a human lure. In addition, we summarized published and unpublished data on host feeding patterns of field-collected specimens from Germany, Iran, and Moldova from 2012 to 2022, genetically identified as Cx. pipiens biotype pipiens, Cx. pipiens biotype molestus, Cx. pipiens hybrid

SUBMITTER: Wehmeyer ML 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11363403 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature