Avian roosting behavior influences vector-host interactions for West Nile virus hosts

Area of Science:

• Vector-borne disease ecology
• Behavioral ecology of avian hosts
• Epidemiology of West Nile virus (WNV)

Background:

• Vector feeding is non-random, with specific hosts targeted more frequently.
• This non-random feeding can amplify pathogen transmission, as seen with West Nile virus (WNV).
• Drivers of host-vector contact variation remain poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how avian host roosting behavior influences mosquito (Culex pipiens) host-seeking abundance.
• To understand the impact of roosting height and aggregation on WNV transmission dynamics.

Main Methods:

• Compared roosting height and aggregation size of seven avian WNV hosts.
• Assessed host-seeking mosquito abundance at communal and non-communal roost sites.
• Correlated mosquito abundance and feeding preferences with host roosting characteristics.

Main Results:

• Mosquito abundance increased with roosting height, aligning with feeding preferences.
• Communal American robin roosts had significantly lower mosquito-per-bird ratios than non-communal sites.
• Seasonal changes in roost formation may explain shifts in mosquito feeding patterns.

Conclusions:

• Host habitat use and social aggregation significantly influence vector-host interactions.
• Bird behavior and vector ecology are interconnected, impacting disease transmission.
• Findings link avian behavioral ecology to the transmission of vector-borne diseases to humans.