Virus interferes with host-seeking behaviour of mosquito

• Published in: Journal of experimental biology Vol. 220; no. 19; pp. 3598 - 3603
• Main Authors: Vogels, Chantal B. F., Fros, Jelke J., Pijlman, Gorben P., van Loon, Joop J. A., Gort, Gerrit, Koenraadt, Constantianus J. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England The Company of Biologists Ltd 01.10.2017
• Subjects: 017-4047; Animals; Aquatic insects; Birds; Birds - physiology; Central nervous system; Culex - physiology; Culex - virology; Culex pipiens; Culicidae; Disease transmission; Epidemics; Female; Fitness; Host preference; Host preferences; Host searching behavior; Host-Seeking Behavior; Infections; Insect Vectors - physiology; Insect Vectors - virology; Manipulation; Mosquitoes; Olfaction; Olfactometry; Pathogens; Sensilla - physiology; Vector-borne diseases; Vectors; Virus transmission; Viruses; West Nile virus; West Nile virus - physiology; Culex pipiens; Virus transmission; Host preference; Manipulation; Olfaction
• ISSN: 0022-0949; 1477-9145; 1477-9145
• DOI: 10.1242/jeb.164186

Transmission of vector-borne pathogens is dependent on the host-seeking behaviour of their vector. Pathogen manipulation of the host-seeking behaviour of vectors towards susceptible hosts is supposedly beneficial for transmission. For West Nile virus (WNV), manipulation of the host-seeking behaviour of the main mosquito vector towards birds would be advantageous, because mammals are dead-end hosts. We hypothesised that WNV infection induces a stronger host-seeking response and a shift in host preference towards birds, to enhance its transmission by mosquitoes. However, here we show that WNV infection decreases the host-seeking response, and does not induce a shift in mosquito host preference. Other fitness-related traits are not affected by WNV infection. No effect of WNV infection was found on antennal electrophysiological responsiveness. Thus, the reduced host-seeking response is likely to result from interference in the mosquito's central nervous system. This is the first study that shows changes, specifically in the host-seeking behaviour induced by a pathogen, that do not favour transmission.