Avian malaria alters the dynamics of blood feeding in Culex pipiens mosquitoes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Some Plasmodium species have the ability to modify the behaviour of their mosquito vectors. This is thought to be an adaptive strategy that maximizes the parasite's transmission.

Methods

The effect of Plasmodium relictum infections on the blood feeding behaviour of Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus mosquitoes was monitored.

Results

Plasmodium infections did not alter the proportion of blood fed mosquitoes but they did affect the dynamics and the size of the blood meal. Sporozoite-infected mosquitoes completed their blood meal 1.3 times later than uninfected mosquitoes and ended up with smaller blood meals.

Conclusion

The potential adaptive nature of this manipulation of mosquito behaviour is discussed in the light of previous studies on other malaria mo

SUBMITTER: Cornet S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6420798 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature