title: Host feeding patterns of mosquitoes in a rural malaria-endemic region in hainan island, china.
abstract: Malaria is endemic in Wangxia Village of Hainan Island. In this area little is known about the host seeking behavior and feeding habit of mosquitoes. Three sites representing the most common habitat types in the village were selected to study the host seeking behavior and feeding habit of mosquitoes. Of the total 9 species belonging to 4 genera (Armigeres, Culex, Aedes, and Anopheles) collected in Wangxia Village, Culex tritaeniorhynchus and Cx. pipiens quinquefasciatus were the most commonly collected species. Armigeres subalbatus and Anopheles sinensis were moderately common species. Blood meal analysis confirmed that Cx. tritaeniorhynchus and Cx. p. quinquefasciatus fed on multiple hosts, mainly poultry but occasionally other animals. Anopheles sinensis, a vector of malaria, fed predominately on cattle hosts, followed by humans. Anopheles maculatus and An. barbirostris fed on both humans and domestic animals. Our results indicate that most mosquitoes in this area preferred domestic animals over humans and showed a tendency to feed on multiple hosts within the same gonotrophic cycle. Therefore, the potential role of domestic animals in arbovirus transmission should be evaluated as part of a strategy for controlling mosquito-borne diseases in this region.
authors.affiliation: 1  Department of Vector Biology and Control, State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Xia
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Chun-Xiao
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Yan-De
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Ying-Mei
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Tong-Yan
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002681:China; D009033:Culicidae / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D020387:Food Chain; D006801:Humans; D011200:Poultry
keywords: Hainan Island; Host preference; malaria; mosquito