Service M W
J Hyg (Lond). 1971 Mar;69(1):105-11. doi: 10.1017/s0022172400021318.
Field experiments were made in southern England to re-examine the possibility that mosquitoes in Britain might feed on wild rabbits and hence be vectors of myxomatosis. Mosquitoes of several species were attracted to rabbits enclosed in cylindrical traps and in a trap in which the animal was placed in a wire mesh cage. Substantial numbers of mosquitoes were also caught biting, or attempting to bite, tethered rabbits which were not in cages or traps. Evidence that mosquitoes fed on wild rabbits under natural conditions was obtained from results of precipitin tests made on blood-smears collected from mosquitoes caught resting amongst vegetation. On a few evenings mosquitoes were seen to be attracted to healthy wild rabbits and apparently attempting to feed on them. Batches of two mosquito species collected from the field were infected with myxoma virus.It was concluded that contrary to previous beliefs mosquitoes in Britain feed to a certain extent on wild rabbits, and therefore are potential vectors of myxomatosis. No attempts were made to assess their relative importance in the transmission of the disease, which in Britain is transmitted mainly by the rabbit flea.
在英格兰南部进行了实地试验，以重新审视英国的蚊子可能以野兔为食并因此成为黏液瘤病传播媒介的可能性。几种蚊子被封闭在圆柱形诱捕器中的兔子以及放置在金属丝网笼中的兔子所吸引。大量蚊子也被捕获正在叮咬或试图叮咬未关在笼子或诱捕器中的拴系野兔。从对在植被中休息的捕获蚊子采集的血涂片进行沉淀素试验的结果中，获得了蚊子在自然条件下以野兔为食的证据。在几个晚上，可以看到蚊子被健康的野兔吸引并显然试图叮咬它们。从野外采集的两批蚊子感染了黏液瘤病毒。得出的结论是，与之前的看法相反，英国的蚊子在一定程度上以野兔为食，因此是黏液瘤病的潜在传播媒介。未尝试评估它们在疾病传播中的相对重要性，在英国，该疾病主要由兔蚤传播。
