Increased mosquito feeding on Rift Valley fever virus-infected lambs. 1984

M J Turell, and C L Bailey, and C A Rossi

Experiments were conducted to determine whether or not mosquitoes exhibited an increase in feeding on Rift Valley fever (RVF) virus-infected lambs as compared to uninfected ones. Overall, when given a choice between a viremic lamb, or its uninfected twin, 65% (1,264/1,943) of the engorged female Culex pipiens obtained blood from the viremic lamb. This excess of feedings on viremic lambs was demonstrated regardless of the age of the lambs, or the time period between inoculation of the lambs and exposure to mosquitoes. With 3-day-old and 6- to 8-week-old lambs, 66% of the mosquitoes obtained blood from the viremic lamb. At 28, 48, and 52 hours after infection, the percentages of mosquitoes feeding on viremic lambs were 72, 68, and 64, respectively. Temperature, as measured by the difference in temperature of the viremic lamb minus that of the control lamb, was positively correlated with mosquito feedings on young lambs (3 days old), but not on older lambs (6 to 8 weeks old). When Cx. pipiens and Aedes taeniorhynchus were simultaneously given the opportunity to feed on 3-week-old lambs, a significantly higher percentage of engorged Cx. pipiens (94/108, 87%) fed on the viremic lamb than did engorged Ae. taeniorhynchus (187/350, 53%). The data generated by this study (e.g., an excess of feedings on the viremic lambs) warrant further study to determine the significance of this observation under field conditions.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007303 Insect Vectors Insects that transmit infective organisms from one host to another or from an inanimate reservoir to an animate host. Insect Vector,Vector, Insect,Vectors, Insect
D009033 Culicidae A family of the order DIPTERA that comprises the mosquitoes. The larval stages are aquatic, and the adults can be recognized by the characteristic WINGS, ANIMAL venation, the scales along the wing veins, and the long proboscis. Many species are of particular medical importance. Mosquitoes,Mosquitos,Mosquito
D001831 Body Temperature The measure of the level of heat of a human or animal. Organ Temperature,Body Temperatures,Organ Temperatures,Temperature, Body,Temperature, Organ,Temperatures, Body,Temperatures, Organ
D003465 Culex A genus of mosquitoes (CULICIDAE) commonly found in tropical regions. Species of this genus are vectors for ST. LOUIS ENCEPHALITIS as well as many other diseases of man and domestic and wild animals. Culices
D005247 Feeding Behavior Behavioral responses or sequences associated with eating including modes of feeding, rhythmic patterns of eating, and time intervals. Dietary Habits,Eating Behavior,Faith-based Dietary Restrictions,Feeding Patterns,Feeding-Related Behavior,Food Habits,Diet Habits,Eating Habits,Behavior, Eating,Behavior, Feeding,Behavior, Feeding-Related,Behaviors, Eating,Behaviors, Feeding,Behaviors, Feeding-Related,Diet Habit,Dietary Habit,Dietary Restriction, Faith-based,Dietary Restrictions, Faith-based,Eating Behaviors,Eating Habit,Faith based Dietary Restrictions,Faith-based Dietary Restriction,Feeding Behaviors,Feeding Pattern,Feeding Related Behavior,Feeding-Related Behaviors,Food Habit,Habit, Diet,Habit, Dietary,Habit, Eating,Habit, Food,Habits, Diet,Pattern, Feeding,Patterns, Feeding,Restrictions, Faith-based Dietary
D005260 Female Females
D000330 Aedes A genus of mosquitoes (CULICIDAE) frequently found in tropical and subtropical regions. YELLOW FEVER and DENGUE are two of the diseases that can be transmitted by species of this genus. Aede
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012295 Rift Valley Fever An acute infection caused by the RIFT VALLEY FEVER VIRUS, an RNA arthropod-borne virus, affecting domestic animals and humans. In animals, symptoms include HEPATITIS; abortion (ABORTION, VETERINARY); and DEATH. In humans, symptoms range from those of a flu-like disease to hemorrhagic fever, ENCEPHALITIS, or BLINDNESS. Fever, Rift Valley
D012296 Rift Valley fever virus A mosquito-borne species of the PHLEBOVIRUS genus found in eastern, central, and southern Africa, producing massive hepatitis, abortion, and death in sheep, goats, cattle, and other animals. It also has caused disease in humans.

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