title: Occurrence of a mosquito vector in bird houses: Developmental consequences and potential epidemiological implications.
abstract: Even with continuous vector control, dengue is still a growing threat to public health in Southeast Asia. Main causes comprise difficulties in identifying productive breeding sites and inappropriate targeted chemical interventions. In this region, rural families keep live birds in backyards and dengue mosquitoes have been reported in containers in the cages. To focus on this particular breeding site, we examined the capacity of bird fecal matter (BFM) from the spotted dove, to support Aedes albopictus larval growth. The impact of BFM larval uptake on some adult fitness traits influencing vectorial capacity was also investigated. In serial bioassays involving a high and low larval density (HD and LD), BFM and larval standard food (LSF) affected differently larval development. At HD, development was longer in the BFM environment. There were no appreciable mortality differences between the two treatments, which resulted in similar pupation and adult emergence successes. BFM treatment produced a better gender balance. There were comparable levels of blood uptake and egg production in BFM and LSF females at LD; that was not the case for the HD one, which resulted in bigger adults. BFM and LSF females displayed equivalent lifespans; in males, this parameter was shorter in those derived from the BFM/LD treatment. Taken together these results suggest that bird defecations successfully support the development of Ae. albopictus. Due to their cryptic aspects, containers used to supply water to encaged birds may not have been targeted by chemical interventions.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia; Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation (IBEC), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kuching, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia. Electronic address: hamachan1@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Hamady
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dieng
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Rahimah Binti
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ahmad Abu
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Idris Abd
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Ghani
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Fatimah Bt
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Abang
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Japan; School of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Tomomitsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Satho
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Japan; School of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Fumio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Miake
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Hamdan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Japan; School of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukumitsu
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Japan; School of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nur Aida
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Hashim
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Wan Fatma
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Zuharah
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nur Faeza Abu
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Kassim
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Abdul Hafiz Ab
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Majid
authors.affiliation: School of Social Sciences, University Utara Malaysia, Kedah Darul Aman, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Rekha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Selvarajoo
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Cirilo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nolasco-Hipolito
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Olaide Olawunmi
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Ajibola
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation (IBEC), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kuching, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Andrew Alek
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Tuen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000330:Aedes / Q000821:virology*; D000818:Animals; D001210:Asia, Southeastern / Q000453:epidemiology; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D010856:Columbidae / Q000821:virology*; D003715:Dengue / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D004199:Disease Vectors; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population
keywords: Adult life traits; Aedes larvae; Bird feces; Development; Epidemiological significance; Nutrient