Modeling host-feeding preference and molecular systematics of mosquitoes in different ecological niches in Canada
Introduction
Mosquitoes are important vectors for several pathogens, including viruses and parasites (Chinikar et al., 2013). Virus transmission from a reservoir to a susceptible host can occur through the feeding habits of female mosquitoes, which act as a vector (Takken and Verhulst, 2013). Several moboviruses are currently circulating in Canada, including West Nile virus (WNV) and St Louis encephalitis viruses (SLEV), Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEEV), Cache Valley virus (CVV), La Crosse virus (LCV), Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV) and Snowshoe Hare virus (SSHV) (Artsob and Spence, 1991; Evans and Peterson, 2019; Giordano et al., 2017).
Only female mosquitoes bite, as they need blood proteins to produce eggs. While female mosquitoes search for blood in vertebrate hosts including humans (anthropophilic), non-human mammals (mammalophilic), birds (ornithophilic), and reptiles (herpetophilic) (Ng et al., 2011), some mosquito species show different preferential behavior toward hosts. Mosquitoes are known to discriminate between their hosts beyond the level of host classes (Burkett-Cadena et al., 2008).
Several extrinsic and intrinsic factors drive host-feeding preference. Inherent factors are determined by genetic selection, while extrinsic factors include adaptation to the environment, mediated by the abundance and location of potential host species (Takken and Verhulst, 2013). Mosquitoes can detect their hosts by several sensory systems, including vision, thermoreception, hygroreception, and gustation (Wolff and Riffell, 2018). Therefore, the preference of mosquitoes to certain host species means that many of the pathogens transmitted by mosquitoes are host specific. Hence, host preference by mosquitoes has a profound impact on disease transmission (Takken and Verhulst, 2013).
Steadily increasing international travel and projected climate changes may cause introduction or northward spread of exotic mosquito species into Canada, which consequently might alter the composition of mosquito populations and associated diseases (Shahhosseini et al., 2020). In order to identify potential vector species for mobovirus transmission, it is fundamental to know mosquito biodiversity and their host preference since many mosquitoes feed on multiple species and thus represent a potential vectorial route between species (Kramer and Ciota, 2015). Once this knowledge is attained, species-specific control measurements can be implemented (Kramer and Ciota, 2015).
In Canada, the mosquito fauna is diverse, including 10 genera (Cywinska et al., 2006; Giordano et al., 2015; Scudder and Cannings, 2006), with at least 83 species considering the recent introduction of Ae. aegypti in southern Ontario (the main vector for Dengue fever virus) (Chinikar et al., 2013; Giordano et al., 2020). The DNA typing assay provides information on mosquito biting patterns, which subsequently will provide new insights into host preference in mosquito species. This will ultimately help close the knowledge gaps in Canadian mosquito host range and will contribute to a deeper understanding of the transmission cycles and dynamics of moboviruses.
To cover different ecological niches in a surveillance study, it is important to choose a variety of habitats including natural, suburban and urban sites. Moreover, sampling methodology is a critical factor in presenting the most realistic scenario of mosquito host-feeding preference in an ecosystem (Giordano et al., 2020). As such, we have chosen to utilize the BG-Sentinel trap, which attracts a diverse range of mosquito species through two elements for attraction; CO2 and lure (odor of animal/ human body) (Lühken et al., 2014).
There are several published studies that have utilized molecular techniques to determine the source of a blood meal in mosquito species (Molaei et al., 2008; Tomazatos et al., 2019), but there is no such study on Canadian mosquitoes. The objectives of the current study are to identify hosts of Canadian mosquitoes through DNA typing assay and confirm the identification of mosquito species through DNA barcodes in different ecological niches in Canada.
Section snippets
Study area
The mosquito specimens were collected from June to September of 2018 and 2019 at 10 trapping sites in four Canadian provinces including Ontario (ON; 2 sites), Quebec (QC; 4 sites), Manitoba (MB; 2 sites), and British Columbia (BC; 2 sites) (Figure 1, Table S1). Average temperature and precipitation for selected trapping sites in ON was 21°C and 75 mm, 19.5°C and 98.25 mm in QC, 18.5°C and 71 mm in MB, and 18.5°C and 51 mm in BC. Research permits and approvals (PNJC-2018-004, PNY-2018-003) were
Mosquito species diversity
A total of 5,708 female mosquito specimens (blood-fed and non-blood-fed) of 34 taxa were collected in 10 trapping sites in four provinces in Canada, in which 5,244 specimens were captured with BG-Sentinel traps and 464 specimens were captured with the aspirator. The predominant mosquito species was Ae. cinereus, which represented approximately one fifth (n=1009, 17.7%) of all mosquitoes identified. Cx. pipiens/restuans (n=935, 16.4%) was the second most abundant mosquito species, followed by
Discussion
Understanding vector behavior will provide new insight into informed risk assessments and aid in the development of effective control strategies to prevent or reduce human/animal health issues in regards to moboviruses. This is the first work to analyze the host-feeding pattern of different mosquito species in different ecological niches across Canada through molecular techniques. To choose the right place for sample collection, several factors were considered. Previous studies showed that
Conclusions
This study provides a better understanding of the interaction between mosquitoes and their vertebrate hosts. This will help identify potential sources of mobovirus outbreaks through the direct relationship between host-preference and pathogen transmission cycles.
Funding
Not applicable.
Authors’ Contributions
Conceived and designed the study: NSH, GK, GW. Data collection: NSH, TR, CF. Analysed the data: NSH, GW. Wrote the manuscript: NSH. Contributed to manuscript drafting: GW, GK, TR. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Conflict of Interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge Mr. Alain Mochon, Mr. Benoit Dubeau for leading teams for sample collection in Yamaska National Park and Jacques-Cartier National Park respectively, and Jiae Lee and Dennis Fung for sample collection in Vancouver trapping sites, and special thanks to Dr. Mahmoud Iranpour for sampling in Winnipeg and consultations.
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Current affiliation: Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization – International Vaccine Centre.