RT Journal Article
T1 Does bird metabolic rate influence mosquito feeding preference?
A1 Yan, Jiayue
A1 Broggi, Juli
A1 Martínez de la Puente, Josué
A1 Gutiérrez López, Rafael
A1 Gangoso De La Colina, Laura Esther
A1 Soriguer, Ramón
A1 Figuerola, Jordi
AB BackgroundHost selection by mosquitoes plays a central role in the transmission of vector-borne infectious diseases. Although interspecific variation in mosquito attraction has often been reported, the mechanisms underlying intraspecific differences in hosts’ attractiveness to mosquitoes are still poorly known. Metabolic rate is related to several physiological parameters used as location cues by mosquitoes, and so potentially affect host-vector contact rates. Therefore, individual hosts with higher metabolic rates should be more attractive to host-seeking mosquitoes. Here, we experimentally investigated the role of bird metabolic rate in the feeding preferences of Culex pipiens (Linnaeus), a widespread mosquito vector of many pathogens affecting human and wildlife health.ResultsPasser domesticus (Linnaeus) pairs containing one bird treated with 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) and the other injected with phosphate-buffered saline solution (PBS) (i.e. control) were simultaneously exposed overnight to mosquitoes. The treatment did not affect the proportion of mosquitoes biting on each individual. However, mosquito feeding preference was negatively associated with bird resting metabolic rate but positively with bird body mass. These two variables explained up to 62.76% of the variations in mosquito feeding preference.ConclusionsThe relationships between mosquito feeding preferences and individual host characteristics could be explained by enhanced anti-mosquito behaviour associated with higher metabolic rates. The potential role of cues emitted by hosts is also discussed. Thus, individuals with high metabolism may actively avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, despite releasing more attractant cues. Since metabolic rates can be related to individual differences in personality and life history traits, differences in mosquitoes’ feeding preferences may be related to intraspecific differences in exposure to vector-borne pathogens.
PB Springer Nature
SN 1756-3305
YR 2018
FD 2018
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/110801
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/110801
LA eng
NO Yan, J., Broggi, J., Martínez-de la Puente, J. et al. Does bird metabolic rate influence mosquito feeding preference?. Parasites Vectors 11, 110 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-018-2708-9
NO This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (CGL2012-30759) and European Regional Development Fund (CGL2015-65055-P). JY was supported by the State Scholarship Fund from China Scholarship Council, JB and JMP by Juan de la Cierva contracts, LG by a contract from the Excellence Projects of the Junta de Andalucía (RNM-6400) and RGL by an FPI grant.
NO Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España)
NO Ministerio de Economía, Comercio y Empresa (España)
NO European Commission
NO China Scholarship Council
NO Junta de Andalucía
DS Docta Complutense
RD 17 abr 2025