Identification of blood meal from field collected filarial vector mosquitoes, Armigeres subalbatus by multiplex PCR

Abstract

Mosquitoes act as vectors of many diseases affecting humans and animal health, including Zika, malaria, dengue,
chikungunya, viral encephalitis, and filariasis. One of the best strategies to control these vector-borne diseases is to
control the mosquito vectors. Female mosquitoes require a blood source for egg development. As female mosquitoes
take blood meals pathogens are released into the vertebrate host. Identification of the types of vertebrate blood sucked
by the mosquito is essential information required to develop an effective strategy to control the mosquito populations
and the related mosquito borne diseases. Objective of this study was to identify types of mammal blood in Armigeres
subalbatus mosquito, the principal vector of filarial parasites especially Dirofilaria spp. . A total of 210 female Ar.
subalbatus mosquitoes were collected from different place of Sai Kaew beaches, Samed Island, Rayong province, eastern
Thailand. The blood meals of Ar. subalbatus were identified using multiplex PCR specific primers on mitochondrial
cytochrome b gene. The result showed that 74 samples of Ar. subalbatus blood meals was positive for human (17.14%),
pig (5.24%), cow (2.38%), dog (0.48%), and other mammals blood (10%). The 136 samples of negative detection by
multiplex PCR were also positive 2 (0.95%) samples of avian blood, but 134 (63.81%) samples were not detected for
vertebrate blood meal DNA. The benefits of this study are to understand the natural feeding behavior of Ar. subalbatus
mosquitoes. Information obtained from the study would be applied to develop the effective control strategies for Ar.
subalbatus and may provide indirect data suggesting what reservoirs are significant in the mosquito-borne diseases.