Impact of the intensity of infection in birds on Plasmodium development within Culex pipiens mosquitoes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In vector-borne diseases, invertebrate hosts are exposed to highly variable quantities of parasites during their blood meal. This heterogeneity may partly explain the overdispersed distribution of parasites within the vector population and the variability in the extrinsic incubation period (EIP) of the parasite. Indeed, the quantity of parasites ingested is often considered as a good predictor of the quantity of parasites that will develop within the vectors, as well as the speed at which they will develop (i.e. EIP). However, density-dependent processes can influence the relationship between parasite burden in the vertebrate host and in vectors, making this relationship unclear at times.

Methods

Here, we used an avian malaria system to investigate whether the pro

SUBMITTER: Isaia J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11827324 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature