BMC Malaria Journal (2017) 16 (326) - Host attraction and biting ...

Brandyce St. Laurent, Timothy A. Burton, Siti Zubaidah, Helen C. Miller, Puji B. Asih, Amirullah Baharuddin, Sully Kosasih, Shinta, Saya Firman, William A. Hawley, Thomas R. Burkot, Din Syafruddin, Supratman Sukowati, Frank H. Collins and Neil F. Lobo (2017)
Host attraction and biting behaviour of Anopheles mosquitoes in South Halmahera, Indonesia
BMC Malaria Journal 16 (326)
Abstract:
Background
Indonesia is home to a variety of malaria vectors whose specific bionomic traits remain largely uncharacterized. Species-specific behaviours, such as host feeding preferences, impact the dynamics of malaria transmission and the effectiveness of vector control interventions.
Methods
To examine species-specific host attraction and feeding behaviours, a Latin square design was used to compare Anopheles mosquitoes attracted to human, cow, and goat-baited tents. Anopheles mosquitoes were collected hourly from the inside walls of each baited tent. Species were morphologically and then molecularly identified using rDNA ITS2 sequences. The head and thorax of individual specimens were analysed for Plasmodium DNA using PCR. Bloodmeals were identified using a multiplex PCR.
Results
A total of 1024, 137, and 74 Anopheles were collected over 12 nights in cow, goat, and human-baited tents, respectively. The species were identified as Anopheles kochi, Anopheles farauti s.s., Anopheles hackeri, Anopheles hinesorum, Anopheles indefinitus, Anopheles punctulatus, Anopheles tessellatus, Anopheles vagus, and Anopheles vanus, many of which are known to transmit human malaria. Molecular analysis of blood meals revealed a high level of feeding on multiple host species in a single night. Anopheles kochi, An. indefinitus, and An. vanus were infected with Plasmodium vivax at rates comparable to primary malaria vectors.
Conclusions
The species distributions of Anopheles mosquitoes attracted to human, goat, and cow hosts were similar. Eight of nine sporozoite positive samples were captured with animal-baited traps, indicating that even predominantly zoophilic mosquitoes may be contributing to malaria transmission. Multiple host feeding and flexibility in blood feeding behaviour have important implications for malaria transmission, malaria control, and the effectiveness of intervention and monitoring methods, particularly those that target human-feeding vectors.
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Database assignments for author(s): Supratman Sukowati

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
surveys/sampling/distribution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Anopheles punctulatus		Indonesia
	Anopheles farauti		Indonesia
	Anopheles vagus		Indonesia
	Anopheles tessellatus		Indonesia
	Anopheles kochi		Indonesia
	Anopheles hinesorum		Indonesia
	Anopheles indefinitus		Indonesia