Effects Of Arbovirus Infections On Some Behavioupal Aspects Of A Mosquito Aedes Aegypti (Linnaeus)

Abstract

The effects of Semliki forest virus (SF) Sindbis virus (SIN) and Wesselsbron virus (WSL) infection on the feeding behaviour, flight and oviposition in a laboratory strain of Aedes aegypti (L) were investigated after infectivity, growth and transmissibility of these viruses in the mosquito vre re determined. Mosquitoes infected by feeding on infected suckling mice, were observed for their probing behaviour and the blood meal sizes acquired. Flight counts were taken as number of take-offs in a cage of 10 female mosquitoes over a period of time after an infectious blood meal. Oviposition -surface was offered daily to virus infected females and egg counts taken daily 14 hours after each meal. Females infected with SF virus exhibited significantly higher flight counts than uninfected controls (P< 0.01) and probed significantly more times than the controls (P < 0.01). Numbers taking incomplete blood meal in SF virus infected females differed significantly from controls (P< 0.01) • There was no reduction in egg-output in SF virus and WSL virus infected females compared with uninfected controls. SIN virus infected groups gave consistently lower egg counts than the other test and control groups. The study demonstrates that viruses may have some effects on their vector arthropods. The implication of some of the demonstrated effects on the epidemiology of mosquito transmitted arboviruses is discussed.