Avian Malaria Parasites in the Last Supper: Identifying Encounters Between Parasites and the Invasive Asian Mosquito Tiger and Native Mosquito Species in Italy

Overview

Journal Malar J

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Tropical Medicine

Date 2015 Jan 29

PMID 25626918

Citations 35

Authors

Josue Martinez-de la Puente

Joaquin Munoz

Gioia Capelli

Fabrizio Montarsi

Ramon Soriguer

Daniele Arnoldi

Annapaola Rizzoli

Jordi Figuerola

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The invasive Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus has dramatically expanded its distribution range, being catalogued as one of the world's 100 worst invasive alien species. As vectors of pathogens, Ae. albopictus may create novel epidemiological scenarios in the invaded areas.

Methods: Here, the frequency of encounters of Ae. albopictus with the avian malaria parasite Plasmodium and the related Haemoproteus was studied in an area with established populations in northeastern Italy and compared with those from four native mosquito species, Anopheles maculipennis s.l., Culex hortensis, Culex pipiens, and Ochlerotatus caspius. The abdomens of mosquitoes with a recent blood meal were used to identify both the blood meal source and the parasites harboured.

Results: Aedes albopictus had a clear antropophilic behaviour while An. maculipennis and Oc. caspius fed mainly on non-human mammals. Birds were the most common hosts of Cx. pipiens and reptiles of Cx. hortensis. Parasites were isolated from three mosquito species, with Cx. pipiens (30%) showing the highest parasite prevalence followed by Cx. hortensis (9%) and Ae. albopictus (5%).

Conclusions: These results are the first identifying the avian malaria parasites harboured by mosquitoes in Italy and represent the first evidence supporting that, although Ae. albopictus could be involved in the transmission of avian malaria parasites, the risk of avian malaria parasite spread by this invasive mosquito in Europe would be minimal.

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