Can pesticides and larval competition alter susceptibility of Aedes mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) to arbovirus infection?

摘要: Density-dependent processes such as larval competition may be important regulatory factors among some mosquito species. The application of pesticides used for control alter these density-dependent interactions with consequences the number survivors and associated sublethal chronic effects on individuals. We examined how intraspecific larvae low concentrations malathion Aedes aegypti L. albopictus Skuse adult life history traits competence arboviruses using Sindbis virus a model system. Larvae were reared at densities 150 300 per container in absence or presence 0.04 parts million malathion, before surviving females exposed to an infectious blood meal containing 10(5) plaque-forming units/ml virus. For both species, reduced survival adulthood. eliminated negative that resulted lengthened development time smaller-sized adults. Ae. aegypti, but not albopictus, high conditions independently interactively led increase dissemination from midgut. Our results suggest chemical contaminants influence disease transmission directly by altering fitness indirectly vector arboviruses.