Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites increase feeding-associated mortality of their mosquito hosts Anopheles gambiae s.l.
Parasitology
; 120 ( Pt 4): 329-33, 2000 Apr.
Article
de En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-10811273
ABSTRACT
There is some evidence that pathology induced by heavy malaria infections (many oocysts) increases mortality of infected mosquitoes. However, there is little or no published evidence that documented changes in feeding behaviour associated with malaria infection also contribute to higher mortality of infected mosquitoes relative to uninfected individuals. We show here for the first time that, in a natural situation, infection by the sporozoites of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum significantly reduced survival of blood-feeding Anopheles gambiae, the major vector of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. To estimate feeding-associated mortality of infected mosquitoes, we compared the percentage of sporozoite infection in host-seeking mosquitoes caught before and after feeding. The infection rate was 12% for mosquitoes caught during the night as they were entering a tent to feed; however, only 7.5% of the surviving members of the same cohort caught after they had had the opportunity to feed were infected. Thus, Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites increased the probability of dying during the night-time feeding period by 37.5%. The increase in mortality was probably due to decreased efficiency in obtaining blood and by increased feeding activity of the sporozoite-infected mosquitoes that elicited a greater degree of defensive behaviour of hosts under attack.
Recherche sur Google
Collection:
01-internacional
Base de données:
MEDLINE
Sujet principal:
Plasmodium falciparum
/
Vecteurs insectes
/
Anopheles
Type d'étude:
Risk_factors_studies
Limites:
Animals
Pays/Région comme sujet:
Africa
Langue:
En
Journal:
Parasitology
Année:
2000
Type de document:
Article
Pays d'affiliation:
Danemark