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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Blood meal sources of mosquitoes captured in municipal parks in Sao Paulo, Brazil

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Author(s):
de Carvalho, Gabriela Cristina [1] ; Malafronte, Rosely dos Santos [2] ; Izumisawa, Clara Miti [3] ; Teixeira, Renildo Souza [4] ; Natal, Licia [2] ; Marrelli, Mauro Toledo [1, 2]
Total Authors: 6
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Saude Publ, Sao Paulo - Brazil
[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Trop Med, Sao Paulo - Brazil
[3] Prefeitura Sao Paulo, Dept Parques & Areas Verdes, Sao Paulo - Brazil
[4] Prefeitura Sao Paulo, Ctr Controle Zoonoses, Sao Paulo - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 4
Document type: Journal article
Source: JOURNAL OF VECTOR ECOLOGY; v. 39, n. 1, p. 146-152, JUN 2014.
Web of Science Citations: 15
Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate blood meal sources of mosquitoes captured in municipal parks in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and to identify possible associations between mosquito species and their food preferences. Fourteen species of blood hosts of 510 engorged adult female mosquitoes were identified using PCR assays with a vertebrate-specific primer set based on cytochrome b mitochondrial DNA of the following vertebrates: birds, dogs, cats, rodents, humans, and other primates. Mosquitoes were captured using a manual aspirator, CDC traps in the canopy, CDC traps at ground level, and Shannon traps. With the exception of cats, all other vertebrates were used as hosts by mosquitoes in the parks. Statistical analysis failed to show any trend toward association between most culicid species captured and the sources of blood meals. Instead, they revealed random patterns, indicating that the mosquitoes fed on the most abundant or convenient blood meal sources. Although feeding preferences were observed in two species (birds in the case of Cx. nigripalpus and dogs in the case of Cx. quinquefasciatus), our results highlight the opportunistic feeding habits of the female mosquitoes in this study. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 10/51230-8 - Biodiversity of mosquitoes (Diptera : Culicidae) in the city of São Paulo municipal parks
Grantee:Mauro Toledo Marrelli
Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Regular Research Grants