Understanding mosquito host-choice behaviour: a new and low-cost method of identifying the sex of human hosts from mosquito blood meals.

摘要: Mosquito-borne diseases are a global health problem, causing hundreds of thousands deaths per year. Pathogens transmitted by mosquitoes feeding on the blood an infected host and then new host. Monitoring mosquito host-choice behaviour can help in many aspects vector-borne disease control. Currently, it is possible to determine species individual human from meal using genotyping match profile local inhabitants. Epidemiological models generally assume that biting random; however, numerous studies have shown certain characteristics, e.g. genetic makeup skin microbiota, make some individuals more attractive than others. Analysing meals illuminating will re-evaluate optimise transmission models. We describe assay identifies sex person has bitten. The amelogenin locus (AMEL), marker located both X Y chromosomes, was amplified polymerase chain reaction DNA extracted blood-fed Aedes aegypti Anopheles coluzzii. AMEL could be successfully up 24 h after 100% An. coluzzii 96.6% Ae. aegypti, revealing humans were fed mosquitoes. method described here, developed volunteers, applied field-caught biological hosts which they fed. Two important vector tested our laboratory experiments, demonstrating potential this technique improve epidemiological diseases. This viable low-cost approach capacity understanding transmission, specifically gender differences exposure attractiveness data gathered field used shape aid implementation effective targeted control strategies enabling better drivers vector-host interactions.