Unravelling the mosquito-haemosporidian parasite-bird host network in the southwestern Iberian Peninsula: insights into malaria infections, mosquito community and feeding preferences

• Published in: Parasites & vectors Vol. 16; no. 1; pp. 1 - 395
• Main Authors: Mora-Rubio, Carlos, Ferraguti, Martina, Magallanes, Sergio, Bravo-Barriga, Daniel, Hernandez-Caballero, Irene, Marzal, Alfonso, de Lope, Florentino
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BioMed Central Ltd 01.11.2023; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Analysis; Animal behavior; Animal feeding behavior; Aquatic insects; Birds; Climate prediction; Composition; Culicidae; Disease control; Disease transmission; Distribution; Environmental aspects; Feeding behavior; Feeding habits; Feeding preferences; Haemoproteus; Health risks; Host-parasite relationships; Human diseases; Infectious diseases; Insects as carriers of disease; Livestock; Malaria; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Mosquito community composition; Mosquito feeding preference; Mosquitoes; Parasites; Parasitological research; Plasmodium; Prevalence studies (Epidemiology); Risk factors; Risk management; Seasonal variation; Seasonal variations; Sporozoa; Vector-borne disease; Vector-borne diseases; Vectors; Vectors (Biology); Vertebrates; Wildlife; Spain; Iberian Peninsula
• ISSN: 1756-3305; 1756-3305
• DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05964-1

Bakground Here, we analyzed 5859 female mosquitoes captured from May to November in five localities from southwestern Spain to explore the composition and seasonal variation of the vector-parasite-vertebrate host network. We showed a gradual increase in mosquito abundance, peaking in July. A total of 16 different haemosporidian lineages were found infecting 13 mosquito species. Of these assemblages, more than 70% of these vector-parasite associations have not been described in previous studies. Moreover, three Haemoproteus lineages were reported for the first time in this study. The prevalence of avian malaria infections in mosquitoes varied significantly across the months, reaching a maximum in November. Mosquito blood-feeding preference was higher for mammals (62.5%), whereas 37.5% of vectors fed on birds, suggesting opportunistic feeding behavior. These outcomes improve our understanding of disease transmission risk and help tovector control strategies.