Feeding patterns of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) from eastern Santa Catarina state, Brazil.
Blood-feeding sources of Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae) collected in the eastern region of the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina were analyzed by precipitin technique. One hundred fifty-four female mosquitoes collected by CDC traps in the Navegantes municipality 13-15 February 2005 reacted to one or more of eight antisera, including chicken, dog, goat, sheep, horse, opossum, human and rodent antisera. One hundred thirty-seven specimens (89%) reacted to only one source, and 17 (11%) specimens reacted to two sources. Among the 137 specimens reacting to only one source, reactions to rodent (50.4%), sheep (5.8%), chicken (5.1%), goat (5.1%), dog (2.2%), horse (3.6%), and human (3.6%) antisera were observed. The analyzed species demonstrated a high degree of opportunistic feeding behavior in relation to host preference. Results are compared with results from similar studies, and the low proportion of reactions to human antisera is discussed.
Diptera Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Av. Brasil 4365, 21040-360, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. jalencar@ioc.fiocruz.br
Jeronimo
J
Alencar
Júlia dos Santos
Jdos S
Silva
Luis Claudio Motta
LC
de Oliveira
Carlos Brisola
CB
Marcondes
Fernanda
F
Morone
Elias Seixas
ES
Lorosa
D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D003465:Culex / Q000502:physiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000502:physiology*