Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
J Med Entomol. 2011 Mar;48(2):398-404. doi: 10.1603/me10067.
Mosquitoes in the Culex pipiens complex are competent vectors of West Nile virus (WNV; family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus) in the laboratory, and field-collected mosquitoes have tested positive for the virus in California and elsewhere. A better understanding of Cx. pipiens complex blood-feeding patterns will help define the threat that these mosquitoes pose to human health and their role in WNV amplification in northern California. We collected blood-engorged Cx. pipiens complex mosquitoes from resting sites near and away from human habitation in Sacramento and Yolo Counties. Cytochrome c oxidase 1 gene sequences were used to identify the vertebrate species from which blood meals were taken. Of 330 engorged mosquitoes collected at 28 sites from June through August 2007 and May through August 2008, >99% fed on an avian host. Three mosquitoes contained bovine blood and none had fed on a human. American Robins (Turdus migratorius) were bitten most often, and the proportion of American Robin blood meals increased significantly over the summer. Other important avian hosts included House Finches (Carpodacus mexicanus), Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica), Western Meadowlarks (Sturnella neglecta), and Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura). In rural areas, Barn Swallows, Brewer's Blackbirds (Euphagus cyanocephalus), and House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) were frequent hosts. In settings near human habitation, Mourning Doves and Western Meadowlarks were common hosts. Our data indicate that in north central California mosquitoes in the Cx. pipiens complex may be more important as epiornitic than epidemic vectors of WNV.
库蚊复合体中的蚊子在实验室中是西尼罗河病毒（WNV；黄病毒科，黄病毒属）的有效传播媒介，并且在加利福尼亚州和其他地方从野外采集的蚊子已被检测出该病毒呈阳性。更好地了解库蚊复合体的吸血模式将有助于确定这些蚊子对人类健康构成的威胁，以及它们在北加利福尼亚州WNV 扩增中的作用。我们从萨克拉门托县和尤洛县的人类栖息地附近和远离人类栖息地的休息地点收集了吸血后肿胀的库蚊复合体蚊子。使用细胞色素 c 氧化酶 1 基因序列来鉴定吸血来源的脊椎动物物种。在 2007 年 6 月至 8 月和 2008 年 5 月至 8 月期间，从 28 个地点收集的 330 只饱血蚊子中，>99%以鸟类为食。有 3 只蚊子含有牛血，没有一只是吸人血的。美洲知更鸟（Turdus migratorius）被咬的次数最多，并且在整个夏季美洲知更鸟的血液摄入量显著增加。其他重要的鸟类宿主包括家雀（Carpodacus mexicanus）、家燕（Hirundo rustica）、西部草地鹨（Sturnella neglecta）和斑鸠（Zenaida macroura）。在农村地区，家燕、黑鹂（Euphagus cyanocephalus）和家麻雀（Passer domesticus）是常见的宿主。在靠近人类栖息地的环境中，斑鸠和西部草地鹨是常见的宿主。我们的数据表明，在加利福尼亚州中北部，库蚊复合体中的蚊子可能比作为 WNV 的流行媒介更重要，是爆发性的媒介。
