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Host-feeding pattern of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in heterogeneous landscapes of South Andaman, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

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Abstract

Mosquito foraging behavior is a determinant of host-vector contact and has an impact on the risk of arboviral epidemics. Therefore, blood-feeding patterns is a useful tool for assessing the role in pathogen transmission by vector mosquitoes. Competent vectors of dengue and chikungunya viz. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are widely prevalent in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago. Considering the vector potential, medical importance of both these mosquito species and lack of information on host-feeding patterns, blood meal analysis of both these vector mosquitoes was undertaken. Biogents Sentinel traps were used for sampling blooded mosquitoes, for identifying the source of blood meal by agar gel-precipitin test. We identified vertebrate source of 147 and 104 blood meals in Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus from heterogeneous landscapes in South Andaman district. Results revealed that Ae. aegypti (88 %) and Ae. albopictus (49 %) fed on human and a small proportion on mammals and fowls, indicative of predominance of anthropophilism. Ae. aegypti predominantly fed on human blood (94.2 %—densely built urban, 89.8 %—low vegetation coverage, and 78.3 %—medium vegetation coverage). Anthropophilism in Ae. albopictus was maximal in densely built urban (90.5 %) and progressively decreased from low vegetation–vegetation/forested continuum (66.7, 36.4, and 8.7 %), indicating plasticity in feeding across these landscapes. Epidemiological significance of the findings is discussed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. P Vijayachari, Director, Regional Medical Research Centre (ICMR), Port Blair for extending all the facilities for the conduct of the study. The authors thank Dr S. Subramanian, Scientist “E”, Vector Control Research Centre (ICMR), Puducherry for guidance on statistical analysis. Technical Assistance rendered by the staff of the Division of Medical Entomology and Vector Borne Diseases is gratefully acknowledged.

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  1. Regional Medical Research Centre (Indian Council of Medical Research), Post Bag No.13, Port Blair, 744 101, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

    Arun Sivan, A. N. Shriram, I. P. Sunish & P. T. Vidhya

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  1. Arun Sivan
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  3. I. P. Sunish
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Correspondence to A. N. Shriram.

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Sivan, A., Shriram, A.N., Sunish, I.P. et al. Host-feeding pattern of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in heterogeneous landscapes of South Andaman, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Parasitol Res 114, 3539–3546 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-015-4634-5

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