Microsporidiosis (Microsporidia: Culicosporidae) alters blood-feeding responses and DEET repellency in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae).
Infection of Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) with Edhazardia aedis (Microsporidia: Culicosporidae) reduced mean human host attraction and landing/probing rates in female mosquitoes by 53 and 62%, respectively, compared with rates in microsporidia-free females. Infection with E. aedis reduced the average weight of unfed female mosquitoes by 4%, caused them to imbibe 23% less blood, and to lay 30% fewer eggs than healthy females. In contrast, E. aedis-infected mosquitoes required 20% more time (>1 h) than healthy females to bite skin treated with 15% DEET. Statistically significant morbidity in E. aedis-infected females was indicated by reductions in host attraction and landing/probing responses, the mass of unfed and blood-engorged females, and fecundity, and by increased DEET repellency.
USDA-ARS, Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, 1600 SW 23rd Dr., Gainesville, FL 32608, USA. don.barnard@ars.usda.gov
Donald R
DR
Barnard
Rui-De
RD
Xue
Margaret A
MA
Rotstein
James J
JJ
Becnel
D000330:Aedes / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D003671:DEET / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D007302:Insect Repellents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016814:Microsporidia / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction
D007302:Insect Repellents; D003671:DEET