Multiple host-feeding and biting persistence of Aedes aegypti.

The effects of host activity, host defensive behaviour and biting persistence on multiple host-feeding by Aedes aegypti (L.) were investigated, in laboratory conditions, on human volunteers. In four different settings, four or five volunteer hosts displayed inactive, mildly active, mildly defensive and highly defensive behaviour. Into each of the four trials, each with 20 replicates, a single mosquito was released for a period of 10 min. In all settings, the median number of hosts sought per mosquito was constant, regardless of host activity and host defensive behaviour. Host defensive behaviour was thus not seen to exert a selective pressure on mosquitoes to abandon their hosts. No relationship was found between biting persistence and the number of hosts sought, indicating that biting persistence does not affect disease transmission. As one of the female hosts was consistently and significantly less attractive to host-seeking mosquitoes than any other volunteer in all four settings, it seems that some individuals are significantly less at risk from mosquito-borne pathogens than others.