title: The mosquito Aedes (Aedimorphus) vexans arabiensis as a probable vector bridging the West Nile virus between birds and horses in Barkedji (Ferlo, Senegal).
abstract: Active catches of adult females of Aedes vexans arabiensis Patton, (Diptera: Culicidae) Patton by nets or aspirator, were conducted in 2003 and 2004 in the vegetation at the edge of temporary ponds in Barkedji, Senegalese Ferlo area. Two hundred and forty-one engorged females were captured, dissected and the gut content adsorbed on a Whatman filter paper and analysed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique to determinate the bloodmeal origin. Results indicated that Ae v. arabiensis fed primarily on mammals, including horses (35.7% of the bloodmeals), but also on birds (10%). Moreover, associations between horses and birds accounted for 42% of the mixed bloodmeals. These results show an opportunistic feeding behaviour and suggest that Ae v. arabiensis is a probable vector bridging the West Nile virus between horses and birds hosts in the Ferlo area.
authors.affiliation: Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles/Laboratoire National de l'Elevage et de Recherches Vétérinaires, Service de Bio-Ecologie et Pathologies Parasitaires, Dakar-Hann, Senegal. agueyefall@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Fall
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diaïté
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Etter
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bouyer
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Ndiaye
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Konaté
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D001717:Birds; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D006736:Horses; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000502:physiology*; D012675:Senegal / Q000453:epidemiology; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D014902:West Nile virus