Acceptability of Aedes aegypti blood feeding on dengue virus-infected human volunteers for vector competence studies in Iquitos, Peru

• Published in: PLoS neglected tropical diseases Vol. 13; no. 2; p. e0007090
• Main Authors: Morrison, Amy C., Schwarz, Julia, Long, Kanya C., Cordova, Jhonny, Rios, Jennifer E., Quiroz, W. Lorena, Vizcarra, S. Alfonso, Hontz, Robert D., Scott, Thomas W., Lambrechts, Louis, Paz Soldan, Valerie A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01.02.2019; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Acceptability; Adolescent; Adult; Adults; Aedes - physiology; Aedes - virology; Aedes aegypti; Aged; Animals; Aquatic insects; Biology and Life Sciences; Bites; Bites (Injuries); Blood; Blood meals; Chikungunya virus; Children; Dengue; Dengue - transmission; Dengue - virology; Dengue fever; Dengue Virus - physiology; Disease transmission; Earth Sciences; Feed composition; Feeding; Feeding Behavior; Feeding experiments; Female; Females; Focus Groups; Genetic aspects; Health aspects; Hematology; Human diseases; Humans; Informed Consent; Insect bites; Insect Bites and Stings; Life Sciences; Male; Males; Meals; Medical research; Medicine and Health Sciences; Microbiology and Parasitology; Middle Aged; Mosquito Vectors - physiology; Mosquito Vectors - virology; Mosquitoes; Motor vehicle drivers; People and places; Peru; Procedures; Qualitative research; Research and Analysis Methods; Social Sciences; Studies; Transmission; Tropical diseases; Vector-borne diseases; Viral diseases; Viruses; Volunteers; Yellow fever mosquito; Young Adult; Peru; New York; Washington DC; California; France; United States > US; Mosquitoes; Neighborhoods; Pilot studies; Chikungunya virus; Pruritus; Dengue virus; Peru; Blood
• ISSN: 1935-2735; 1935-2727; 1935-2735
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007090

As part of a study to investigate drivers of dengue virus (DENV) transmission dynamics, this qualitative study explored whether DENV-infected residents of Iquitos, Peru, considered it acceptable (1) to participate in direct mosquito feeding experiments (lab-reared Aedes aegypti mosquitoes fed directly on human volunteers) and (2) to provide blood meals indirectly (Ae. aegypti fed on blood drawn from participants by venipuncture). Twelve focus group discussions (FGDs; 94 participants: 82 females and 12 males) were conducted in January 2014 to explore six themes: (1) concerns and preferences regarding direct mosquito feeds and blood draws, (2) comprehension of and misconceptions about study procedures, (3) motivating factors for participation, (4) acceptability of children's participation, (5) willingness to provide multiple samples over several days, and (6) preference for direct feedings in homes versus the study laboratory. Results of FGDs, including one with 5 of 53 past direct mosquito feed participants, indicated that mosquito feeding procedures are acceptable to Iquitos residents when they are provided with information and a few key messages are properly reinforced. FGD participants' concerns focused primarily on safety issues rather than discomfort associated with mosquito bites. A video explaining the study dramatically increased comprehension of the study procedures. The majority of participants expressed a preference for mosquito feeding over venipuncture. Adults supported child participation if the children themselves assented. For most participants, home feedings were preferred over those in a laboratory. A major impetus for participation was the idea that results would contribute to an improved understanding of DENV transmission in Iquitos. Findings from our study will support future large-scale studies that employ direct mosquito feeding, a low-risk, non-invasive procedure that is experimentally superior to artificial mosquito feeding methods.