Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) as a potential West Nile virus vector in Tucson, Arizona: blood meal analysis indicates feeding on both humans and birds.
Most reports from the United States suggest Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes feed minimally on humans. Given the abundance of C. quinquefasciatus in residential Tucson and parts of metropolitan Phoenix, and the arrival of West Nile virus to this area, discovering the blood meal hosts of the local population is important. Using a sandwich ELISA technique, the local C. quinquefasciatus were found to feed on both humans and birds. This suggests they should be considered potential West Nile virus vectors.
Zinser
Margaret
M
Entomology Department, The University of Arizona, Forbes 410, Tucson, AZ 85721-0036, USA.
Ramberg
Frank
F
Willott
Elizabeth
E
D000818:Animals; D001130:Arizona; D001717:Birds / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology*; D002415:Cats; D003465:Culex / Q000502:physiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000502:physiology*; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000635:transmission*