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- Hernandez-Colina, Arturo, et al.
(author)
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Blood-feeding ecology of mosquitoes in two zoological gardens in the United Kingdom
- 2021
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In: Parasites & Vectors. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1756-3305. ; 14
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Zoological gardens contain unique configurations of exotic and endemic animals and plants that create a diverse range of developing sites and potential sources of blood meals for local mosquitoes. This may imply unusual interspecific pathogen transmission risks involving zoo vertebrates, like avian malaria to captive penguins. Understanding mosquito ecology and host feeding patterns is necessary to improve mosquito control and disease prevention measures in these environments.Methods: Mosquito sampling took place in Chester Zoo for 3 years (2017, 2018, and 2019) and for 1 year in Flamingo Land (2017) using different trapping methods. Blood-fed mosquitoes were identified and their blood meal was amplified by PCR, sequenced, and blasted for host species identification.Results: In total, 640 blood-fed mosquitoes were collected [Culex pipiens (n = 497), Culiseta annulata (n = 81), Anopheles maculipennis s.l. (n = 7), An. claviger (n = 1), and unidentifiable (n = 55)]. Successful identification of the host species was achieved from 159 blood-fed mosquitoes. Mosquitoes fed on birds (n = 74), non-human mammals (n = 20), and humans (n = 71). There were mixed blood meals from two hosts (n = 6). The proportions of blood-fed mosquitoes varied across sampling seasons and sites within the zoos. The use of resting traps and aspiration of vegetation were more efficient techniques for capturing blood-fed mosquitoes than traps for host-seeking or gravid mosquitoes. By relating the locations of zoo vertebrates to where fed mosquitoes were trapped, the minimum travelling distances were calculated (13.7 to 366.7 m). Temperature, precipitation, relative humidity, proximity to zoo vertebrate exhibits, and vegetation level were found to be significantly associated with the proportion of captured blood-fed mosquitoes by generalized linear modelling.Conclusions: Mosquito feeding behaviour in zoos is mainly influenced by time, location (sampling area), temperature, and host availability, which highlights the value of mosquito monitoring in complex settings to plan control strategies and potentially reduce inherent disease transmission risks for humans and threatened zoo vertebrates.
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| 2. |
- Hernandez-Colina, Arturo, et al.
(author)
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Surveillance of Culex spp. vectors and zoonotic arboviruses at a zoo in the United Kingdom
- 2024
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In: Heliyon. - : Elsevier. - 2405-8440. ; 10:4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The emergence of several zoonotic mosquito-borne pathogens in Europe, including West Nile virus, Sindbis virus and Usutu virus, has emphasised the importance of consistent surveillance. Considerable fieldwork effort is usually needed to detect low-prevalence pathogens in mosquitoes and screening vertebrate hosts and reservoirs is rarely done simultaneously with mosquito sampling. Zoological gardens offer an opportunity for the surveillance of pathogens, mosquitoes, hosts, and reservoirs concurrently; thus, the aim of this study was undertaking integrated surveillance for mosquito-borne pathogens of wild birds and mosquitoes in Chester Zoo (Cheshire) in the United Kingdom. Mosquitoes were collected in September 2020 and tested for zoonotic birdhosted arboviruses (i.e., West Nile virus, Usutu virus and Sindbis virus) using RT-qPCRs. Of the 3316 mosquitoes trapped, 98% were identified as Culex spp. The average minimum prevalence of the viruses found in the literature was used to calculate the sample size needed for detecting these viruses with 99% confidence. The testing of 2878 Culex females found no evidence of presence of the three viruses. Significant differences were found in mosquito abundance per sampling site and collection date; furthermore, important sources of immature and resting mosquitoes were found near aviaries. Eighteen wild birds belonging to 11 species were found dead in the zoo from May to December 2020 and were RT-qPCR tested for West Nile virus and Usutu virus; all samples resulted negative for viral infection. It is unlikely that these viruses were present in the zoo during the sampling period; however, since they circulate in Europe and Usutu virus has been isolated in the United Kingdom and may overwinter here, continued monitoring of mosquitoes and wild birds is recommended as virus introduction and dissemination are possible. This study highlights the importance of regular and integrated arboviral surveillance of zoonotic pathogens in zoos providing baseline information to that end.
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