Blood-feeding Patterns of Amazonian Forest Edge Mosquitoes

Area of Science:

• Medical Entomology
• Ecology
• Genetics

Background:

• Mosquitoes are primary vectors of arboviruses, making their blood-feeding behavior critical for understanding disease transmission dynamics.
• Forest edge habitats, interfaces between natural and human-altered environments, facilitate interactions between humans, wildlife, and mosquitoes, potentially leading to viral spillover and spillback events.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the blood-feeding habits of mosquitoes in Amazonian forest edge habitats.
• To assess the public health risks associated with arbovirus transmission in these ecotones.
• To inform targeted vector management strategies.

Main Methods:

• Female mosquitoes were collected from forest edge habitats in Manaus, Brazil (May 2021-June 2022).
• Blood-engorged specimens were analyzed using DNA extraction and next-generation sequencing (NGS) of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene.
• Morphological identification was performed on all collected specimens.

Main Results:

• COI sequences were obtained from 111 of 141 engorged mosquitoes.
• Psorophora amazonica was the dominant species (82.9%), followed by Ps. albigenu, Haemagogus janthinomys, and Culex coronator.
• Human DNA was detected in 88.3% of blood meals, with non-human DNA from ungulates, rodents, non-human primates, birds, and carnivores also identified.

Conclusions:

• Mosquitoes at Amazonian forest edges display opportunistic feeding, primarily on humans but also on diverse vertebrates.
• This behavior is linked to the proximity of wild and urban/agricultural areas, promoting vector-borne contact.
• Findings underscore the epidemiological importance of forest edges for arbovirus surveillance and control.