Host selection by Culex pipiens mosquitoes and West Nile virus amplification
Abstract
Recent field studies have suggested that the dynamics of West Nile virus (WNV) transmission are influenced strongly by a few key super spreader bird species that function both as primary blood hosts of the vector mosquitoes (in particular Culex pipiens) and as reservoir-competent virus hosts. It has been hypothesized that human cases result from a shift in mosquito feeding from these key bird species to humans after abundance of the key birds species decreases. To test this paradigm, we performed a mosquito blood meal analysis integrating host-feeding patterns of Cx. pipiens, the principal vector of WNV in the eastern United States north of the latitude 36°N and other mosquito species with robust measures of host availability, to determine host selection in a WNV-endemic area of suburban Chicago, Illinois, during 2005–2007. Results showed that Cx. pipiens fed predominantly (83%) on birds with a high diversity of species used as hosts (25 species). American robins (Turdus migratorius) were marginally overused and several species were underused on the basis of relative abundance measures, including the common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula), house sparrow (Passer domesticus), and European starling (Sturnus vulgaris). Culex pipiens also fed substantially on mammals (19%; 7 species with humans representing 16%). West Nile virus transmission intensified in July of both years at times when American robins were heavily fed upon, and then decreased when robin abundance decreased, after which other birds species were selected as hosts. There was no shift in feeding from birds to mammals coincident with emergence of human cases. Rather, bird feeding predominated when the onset of the human cases occurred. Measures of host abundance and competence and Cx. pipiens feeding preference were combined to estimate the amplification fractions of the different bird species. Predictions were that approximately 66% of WNV-infectious Cx. pipiens became infected from feeding on just a few species of birds, including American robins (35%), blue jays (17%, Cyanocitta cristata), and house finches (15%, Carpodacus mexicanus).
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Culex mosquitoes appear to prefer to feed on some bird species while avoiding others.
“Culex mosquitoes appear to prefer to feed on some bird species while avoiding others (Kilpatrick et al. 2006; Hamer et al. 2009, in press)”
From Avian host community structure and prevalence of West Nile virus in Chicago, Illinois (2009) · cites this paper as Hamer et al. 2009, in press
In a simultaneous study at the same sites, passerines comprised 85% of avian blood meals from Culex pipiens mosquitoes.
“passerines comprised 85% of avian blood meals from Culex pipiens mosquitoes (Hamer et al. 2009, in press).”
From Avian host community structure and prevalence of West Nile virus in Chicago, Illinois (2009) · cites this paper as Hamer et al. 2009, in press
Estimates of host selection in the study area suggest that Culex mosquitoes avoid feeding on house sparrows.
“estimates of host selection in the study area suggest that Culex mosquitoes avoid feeding on house sparrows (Hamer et al. 2009, in press).”
From Avian host community structure and prevalence of West Nile virus in Chicago, Illinois (2009) · cites this paper as Hamer et al. 2009, in press
Cx. pipiens feeds mainly (83%) on a high diversity of avian species.
“considering also that it feeds mainly (83%) on a high diversity of avian species (Hamer et al., 2009)”
From Culex pipiens as a potential vector for transmission of Dirofilaria immitis and other unclassified Filarioidea in Southwest Spain (2016) · cites this paper as Hamer et al., 2009
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Hamer, G. L., Kitron, U. D., Goldberg, T. L., Brawn, J. D., Loss, S. R., Ruiz, M. O., Hayes, D. B., & Walker, E. D.
- Affiliations
- University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
- University of Minnesota (US)
- Corresponding author
- Hamer, Gabriel L.
- ORCID
- Venue
- The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
- Published
- 2009-02
- Volume
- 80
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 268-278
- ISSN
- 0002-9637 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1929999978
- Semantic Scholar
- 25ab476346d039707c8736867be7127dbeae7c6d
- Cited by
- 392
- References
- 54
- Citations by year
- 2026: 18 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 24 · 2016: 31 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 33 · 2012: 21
- FWCI
- 24.76
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Viral Infections and Vectors
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Parasitology › Bird parasitology and diseases
- Keywords
- West Nile virus, Culex pipiens, mosquito host selection, blood meal analysis, American robin, viral replication, mosquito feeding preferences, bird abundance, blue jay, house finch, Chicago
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Bird Diseases, Blood, Culex, Feeding Behavior, Humans, Insect Vectors, Species Specificity, West Nile Fever, West Nile virus, Passeriformes, Host-Pathogen Interactions
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