Feeding patterns of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) from eastern Santa Catarina state, Brazil

Blood-feeding sources of Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae) collected in the eastern region of the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina were analyzed by precipitin technique. One hundred fifty-four female mosquitoes collected by CDC traps in the Navegantes municipality 13-15 February 2005...

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Published inJournal of medical entomology Vol. 49; no. 4; p. 952
Main Authors Alencar, Jeronimo, Silva, Júlia dos Santos, de Oliveira, Luis Claudio Motta, Marcondes, Carlos Brisola, Morone, Fernanda, Lorosa, Elias Seixas
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England 01.07.2012
Subjects
Animals
Brazil
Culex - physiology
Dogs
Feeding Behavior
Female
Host-Parasite Interactions
Humans
Insect Vectors - physiology
Brazil
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Summary:Blood-feeding sources of Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae) collected in the eastern region of the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina were analyzed by precipitin technique. One hundred fifty-four female mosquitoes collected by CDC traps in the Navegantes municipality 13-15 February 2005 reacted to one or more of eight antisera, including chicken, dog, goat, sheep, horse, opossum, human and rodent antisera. One hundred thirty-seven specimens (89%) reacted to only one source, and 17 (11%) specimens reacted to two sources. Among the 137 specimens reacting to only one source, reactions to rodent (50.4%), sheep (5.8%), chicken (5.1%), goat (5.1%), dog (2.2%), horse (3.6%), and human (3.6%) antisera were observed. The analyzed species demonstrated a high degree of opportunistic feeding behavior in relation to host preference. Results are compared with results from similar studies, and the low proportion of reactions to human antisera is discussed.
ISSN:0022-2585
DOI:10.1603/ME11270