Potential evidence of parasite avoidance in an avian malarial vector

摘要: Epidemiological studies of malaria or other vector-transmitted diseases often consider vectors as passive actors in the complex life cycle parasites, assuming that vector populations are homogeneous and vertebrate hosts equally susceptible to being infected during their lifetime. However, some based on both human rodent systems found mosquito preferentially selected hosts. This subject has been scarcely investigated avian models even less wild animals using natural host–parasite associations. We whether infection status great tits, Parus major , played a role host selection by Culex pipiens . Pairs uninfected birds were tested dual-choice olfactometer assess attractiveness mosquitoes. Plasmodium -infected attracted significantly fewer mosquitoes than ones, which suggest parasites alter hosts' odours involved orientation. Reaction time mosquitoes, is, taken select host, activation defined proportion individuals flying towards one hosts, not affected bird's status. The importance these behavioural responses for is discussed light recent advances related similar model systems.