Increased biting rate and reduced fertility in sporozoite-infected mosquitoes.
Because salivary function and blood location are impaired in sporozoite-infected mosquitoes, we determined whether such pathology also could lead to an increased biting rate. For 5 days, we compared relative daily biting rates of Plasmodium gallinaceum sporozoite-infected mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti) and noninfected mosquitoes with an olfactometer. Mosquitoes then were exposed for 5 min to an anesthetized guinea pig. Infected mosquitoes exhibited a significant increase in olfactometer response which was also reflected in a decreased egg output. We conclude that if duration of contact with a host is limited, then infected mosquitoes may make more attempts at probing before being successful, and thus enhance transmission.
D000330:Aedes / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000469:parasitology; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology; D008288:Malaria / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000502:physiology*; D010964:Plasmodium gallinaceum / Q000502:physiology*