A Literature Review of Host Feeding Patterns of Invasive Aedes Mosquitoes in Europe
Metadatos
Afficher la notice complèteEditorial
MDPI
Materia
Alien species Asian tiger mosquito Dengue Feeding pattern Feeding behavior Host Vectors Yellow fever Zika
Date
2020Referencia bibliográfica
Cebrián-Camisón, S.; Martínez-de la Puente, J.; Figuerola, J. A Literature Review of Host Feeding Patterns of Invasive Aedes Mosquitoes in Europe. Insects 2020, 11, 848. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects11120848
Patrocinador
Spanish Government PGC2018-095704-B-I00; AIM-COST Action CA17108; European Union (EU)Résumé
Simple Summary: Invasive mosquito species alter the local epidemiology of many pathogens in the
invaded areas, including locality circulating pathogens and imported ones. Four invasive species of the
genus Aedes are established in Europe, potentially affecting the transmission of vector-borne diseases
in the area. These species include Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, Aedes japonicus and Aedes koreicus.
Here, we extensively review the blood feeding patterns of these invasive Aedes mosquitoes which
constitute a key parameter affecting the contact rates between infected and susceptible hosts,
thus playing a central role in epidemiology of mosquito-borne pathogens. Our results show that these
mosquito species feed on different vertebrate groups, especially on mammals. Humans are common
hosts of these species, representing 36% and 93% of the blood meals identified for Aedes japonicus and
Aedes aegypti, respectively. Birds and, even, ectotherms have been recorded as potential hosts of these
Aedes invasive mosquitoes. Given their competence for the transmission of emerging arboviruses
such as dengue or Chikungunya viruses and their rates of feeding in humans, Aedes invasive species
may have an important impact in the transmission of these pathogens in urban and periurban areas.
Finally, we identify the knowledge gaps on the blood feeding patterns of these species and propose
directions for future research. Abstract: Aedes invasive mosquitoes (AIMs) play a key role as vectors of several pathogens of
public health relevance. Four species have been established in Europe, including Aedes aegypti,
Aedes albopictus, Aedes japonicus and Aedes koreicus. In addition, Aedes atropalpus has been repeatedly
recorded although it has not yet been established. In spite of their importance in the transmission
of endemic (e.g., heartworms) and imported pathogens (e.g., dengue virus), basic information of
parameters affecting their vectorial capacity is poorly investigated. The aim of this study is to
review the blood feeding patterns of these invasive mosquito species in Europe, summarizing
available information from their native and introduced distribution ranges. The feeding patterns of
mosquitoes constitute a key parameter affecting the contact rates between infected and susceptible
hosts, thus playing a central role in the epidemiology of mosquito-borne pathogens. Our results
highlight that these mosquito species feed on the blood of different vertebrate groups from ectotherms
to birds and mammals. However, humans represent the most important source of blood for these
species, accounting for 36% and 93% of hosts identified for Ae. japonicus and Ae. aegypti, respectively.
In spite of that, limited information has been obtained for some particular species, such as Ae. koreicus,
or it is restricted to a few particular areas. Given the high vector competence of the four AIM species
for the transmission of different emerging arboviruses such as dengue, Chikungunya, Zika or Yellow
fever viruses and their high feeding rates on humans, these AIM species may have an important impact on the vectorial capacity for such pathogens on urban and periurban areas. Finally, we propose
directions for future research lines based on identified knowledge gaps.