IDENTIFICATION OF THE PEOPLE FROM WHOM ENGORGED AEDES AEGYPTI TOOK BLOOD MEALS IN FLORIDA, PUERTO RICO, USING POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION-BASED DNA PROFILING

JOHN DE BENEDICTIS Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, California; Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland; Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Dengue Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Search for other papers by JOHN DE BENEDICTIS in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
ESTHER CHOW-SHAFFER Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, California; Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland; Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Dengue Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Search for other papers by ESTHER CHOW-SHAFFER in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
ADRIANA COSTERO Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, California; Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland; Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Dengue Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Search for other papers by ADRIANA COSTERO in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
GARY G. CLARK Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, California; Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland; Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Dengue Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Search for other papers by GARY G. CLARK in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
JOHN D. EDMAN Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, California; Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland; Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Dengue Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Search for other papers by JOHN D. EDMAN in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
THOMAS W. SCOTT Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, California; Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland; Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Dengue Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Search for other papers by THOMAS W. SCOTT in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Restricted access

We used polymerase chain reaction-based DNA profiling to construct allelic profiles for residents and visitors of 22 houses in Florida, Puerto Rico, and human DNA from blood meals in Aedes aegypti that were collected in those homes. Complete profiles were obtained for ≤ 2 days after blood ingestion. Eighteen percent of the meals came from two different people. There was no evidence of meals from ≥ 2 people. Eighty percent of the meal sources were identified, > 70% were taken from residents of the collection house, and > 90% were from residents of the study community. Across the community, feeding was non-random with a bias towards young adults and males. Three people accounted for 56% of the meals. Our results confirm that multiple feeding on different people is an important component in the role of Ae. aegypti in dengue virus transmission and help explain the spatial distribution of dengue cases in a previous epidemic in Florida, Puerto Rico.

Author Notes

Reprint requests: Thomas W. Scott, Department of Entomology, University of California, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, Telephone: 530-754-4196, Fax: 530-752-1537, E-mail: twscott@ucdavis.edu
  • 1

    Ross R, 1911. The Prevention of Malaria. London: John Murray.

  • 2

    Macdonald G, 1957. The Epidemiology and Control of Malaria. London: Oxford University Press.

    • PubMed
    • Export Citation
  • 3

    Garrett-Jones C, Shidrawi GR, 1969. Malaria vectorial capacity of a population of Anopheles gambiae.Bull World Health Organ 40 :531–545.

  • 4

    Bryan JH, Smalley ME, 1978. The use of A-B-O blood markers for mosquito biting studies. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 72 :357–360.

  • 5

    Boreham PFL, Lenahan JK, 1976. Methods for detecting multiple blood-meals in mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae). Bull Entomol Res 66 :671–679.

  • 6

    Boreham PFL, Lenahan JK, Boulzaguet R, Storey J, Askar TS, Nambiar R, Matsushima T, 1979. Studies on multiple feeding by Anopheles gambiae s.l. in a Sudan savanna area of north Nigeria. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 73 :418–423.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 7

    Chow-Schaffer E, Hawley W, Sina B, DeBenedictis J, Scott TW, 2000. Laboratory and field evaluation of PCR-based forensic DNA profiling for use in the identification of human blood meals in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae). J Med Entomol 37 :492–502.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 8

    Gubler DJ, 1997. Dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever: its history and resurgence as a global public health problem. Gubler DJ, Kuno G, eds. Dengue and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever. New York: CAB International, 1–22.

    • PubMed
    • Export Citation
  • 9

    Edman JD, Strickman D, Kittayapong P, Scott TW, 1992. Female Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) in Thailand rarely feed on sugar. J Med Entomol 29 :1035–1038.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 10

    van Handel E, Edman JD, Day JF, Scott TW, Clark GG, Reiter P, Lynn HC, 1994. The nectar feeding habits of urban and rural Aedes aegypti.J Am Mosq Control Assoc 10 :149–153.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 11

    Costero A, Attardo GM, Scott TW, Edman JD, 1998. An experimental study on the detection of fructose in Aedes aegypti.J Am Mosq Control Assoc 14 :234–242.

  • 12

    Scott TW, Clark GG, Lorenz LH, Amerasinghe PH, Reiter P, Edman JD, 1993. Detection of multiple blood-feeding by Aedes aegypti during a single gonotrophic cycle using a histological technique. J Med Entomol 30 :94–99.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 13

    Scott TW, Chow E, Strickman D, Kittayapong P, Wirtz RA, Edman JD, 1993. Blood feeding patterns of Aedes aegypti collected in a rural Thai village. J Med Entomol 30 :922–927.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 14

    Scott TW, Morrison AC, Lorenz LH, Clark GG, Strickman D, Kittayapong P, Zhou H, Edman JD, 2000. Longitudinal studies of Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) in Thailand and Puerto Rico: population dynamics. J Med Entomol 37 :77–88.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 15

    Scott TW, Amerasinghe PH, Morrison AC, Lorenz LH, Clark GG, Strickman D, Kittayapong P, Edman JD, 2000. Longitudinal studies of Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) in Thailand and Puerto Rico: Blood feeding frequency. J Med Entomol 37 :89–101.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 16

    Scott TW, Naksathit A, Day JF, Kittayapong P, Edman JD, 1997. A fitness advantage for Aedes aegypti and the viruses it transmits when females feed only on human blood. Am J Trop Med Hyg 57 :235–239.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 17

    Naksathit AT, Scott TW, 1998. The effect of female size on fecundity and survivorship of Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) fed only human blood versus human blood plus sugar. J Am Mosq Control Assoc 14 :148–152.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 18

    Costero A, Edman JD, Clark GG, Scott TW, 1998. A life table study of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) in Puerto Rico fed only human blood versus blood plus sugar. J Med Entomol 35 :809–813.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 19

    Costero A, Edman JD, Clark GG, Kittayapong P, Scott TW, 1999. Survival of starved Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) in Puerto Rico and Thailand. J Med Entomol 36 :272–276.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 20

    Morrison AC, Costero A, Edman JD, Scott TW, 1999. Increased fecundity of female Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) fed human blood before release in a mark-recapture study in Puerto Rico. J Am Mosq Control Assoc 15 :98–104.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 21

    Harrington LC, Edman JD, Scott TW, 2001. Why do female Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) feed preferentially and frequently on human blood? J Med Entomol 38 :411–422.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 22

    Putnam JP, Scott TW, 1995. The effect of multiple host contacts on the infectivity of dengue-2 virus infected Aedes aegypti.J Parasitol 81 :170–174.

  • 23

    Dye C, Hasibeder G, 1986. Population dynamics of mosquito-borne disease: effects of flies which bite some people more frequently than others. Trans R Soc Med Hyg 80 :69–77.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 24

    Burkot TR, 1988. Non-random host selection by anopheline mosquitoes. Parasitol Today. 4 :156–162.

  • 25

    Woolhouse MEJ, Dye C, Etard JF, Smith T, Charlwood JD, Garrett JP, Hagan P, Hii JLK, Ndhlovu PD, Quinnell RJ, Watts CH, Chandiwana SK, Anderson RM, 1997. Heterogeneities in the transmission of infectious agents: Implications for the design of control programs. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 94 :338–342.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 26

    Morrison AC, Getis A, Santiago M, Rigua JR, Reiter P, 1998. Exploratory space-time analysis of reported dengue cases during an outbreak in Florida, Puerto Rico, 1991–1992. Am J Trop Med Hyg 58 :287–298.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 27

    Edman JD, Scott TW, Costero A, Morrison AC, Harrington LC, Clark GG, 1998. Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) movement influenced by availability of oviposition sites. J Med Entomol 35 :578–583.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 28

    Harrington LC, Buonaccorsi JP, Edman JD, Costero A, Clark GG, Kittayapong P, Scott TW, 2001. Analysis of survival rates for two age cohorts of Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae): results from Puerto Rico and Thailand. J Med Entomol 38 :537–547.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 29

    Rodriguez-Figueroa L, Rigau-Perez JG, Suarez EL, Reiter P, 1995. Risk factors for dengue infection during an outbreak in Yanes, Puerto Rico in 1991. Am J Trop Med Hyg 52 :496–502.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 30

    Michael E, Ramaiah KD, Hotl SL, Barker G, Paul MR, Yuvaraj J, Das PK, Grenfell BT, Bundy DAP, 2001. Quantifying mosquito biting patterns on humans by DNA fingerprinting of bloodmeals. Am J Trop Med Hyg 65 :722–728.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 31

    Dye C, 1992. The analysis of parasite transmission by bloodsucking insects. Annu Rev Entomol 37 :1–19.

  • 32

    Christophers SR, 1960. Aedes aegypti (L.) The Yellow Fever Mosquito. London: Cambridge University Press.

    • PubMed
    • Export Citation
  • 33

    Kuno G, 1995. Review of the factors modulating dengue transmission. Epidemiol Rev 17 :321–335.

  • 34

    Kuno G, 1997. Factors influencing the transmission of dengue viruses. Gubler DJ, Kuno G, eds. Dengue and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever. New York: CAB International, New York, 61–88.

    • PubMed
    • Export Citation
  • 35

    Monath TP, 1994. Dengue: the risk to developed and developing countries. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 91 :2395–2400.

  • 36

    Reiter P, Amador AA, Anderson RA, Clark GG, 1995. Short report: Dispersal of Aedes aegypti in an urban area after blood feeding as demonstrated by rubidium-marked eggs. Am J Trop Med Hyg 52 :177–179.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 37

    Scott TW, Lorenz LH, Edman JD, 1990. Effects of house sparrow age and arbovirus infection on attraction of mosquitoes. J Med Entomol 27 :856–863.

  • 38

    Torr SJ, Wilson PJ, Schofield S, Mangwiro TNC, Akber S, White BN, 2001. Application of DNA markers to identify the individual-specific hosts of tsetse feeding on cattle. Med Vet Entomol 15 :78–86.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 39

    Rigau-Perez JG, Clark GG, Gubler DJ, Reiter P, Sanders EJ, Vordam AV, 1999. Dengue and dengue haemorrhagic fever. Lancet 352 :971–977.

  • 40

    Focks DA, Brenner RJ, Hayes J, Daniels E, 2000. Transmission thresholds for dengue in terms of Aedes aegypti pupae per person with discussion of their utility in source reduction efforts. Am J Trop Med Hyg 62 :11–18.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
Past two years Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 2466 2379 36
Full Text Views 596 11 0
PDF Downloads 108 11 0
 

 

 

 
 
Affiliate Membership Banner
 
 
Research for Health Information Banner
 
 
CLOCKSS
 
 
 
Society Publishers Coalition Banner
Save