Avian roosting behavior influences vector-host interactions for West Nile virus hosts
Abstract Background Extensive work has shown that vectors almost never feed at random. Often, a subset of individual hosts and host species are fed on much more frequently than expected from their abundance and this can amplify pathogen transmission. However, the drivers of variation in contact patt...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2014-08-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-7-399 |
| _version_ | 1827933627156004864 |
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| author | William M Janousek Peter P Marra A Marm Kilpatrick |
| author_facet | William M Janousek Peter P Marra A Marm Kilpatrick |
| author_sort | William M Janousek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Extensive work has shown that vectors almost never feed at random. Often, a subset of individual hosts and host species are fed on much more frequently than expected from their abundance and this can amplify pathogen transmission. However, the drivers of variation in contact patterns between vectors and their hosts are not well understood, even in relatively well-studied systems such as West Nile virus (WNV). Methods We compared roosting height and roost aggregation size of seven avian host species of WNV with patterns of host-seeking mosquito (Culex pipiens) abundance at communal and non-communal roost sites. Results First, host-seeking mosquito abundance increased with height and paralleled increased mosquito feeding preferences on species roosting higher in the tree canopy. Second, there were several hundred-fold fewer mosquitoes per bird trapped at American robin (Turdus migratorius) communal roosts compared to non-communal roost sites, which could reduce transmission from and to this key amplifying host species. Third, seasonal changes in communal roost formation may partly explain observed seasonal changes in mosquito feeding patterns, including a decrease in feeding on communal roosting robins. Conclusions These results illustrate how variation in habitat use by hosts and vectors and social aggregation by hosts influence vector-host interactions and link the behavioral ecology of birds and the transmission of vector-borne diseases to humans. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:28:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-650868649a934d4ebf3dc636aa20c495 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:28:22Z |
| publishDate | 2014-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-650868649a934d4ebf3dc636aa20c4952023-06-04T11:16:04ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052014-08-017111110.1186/1756-3305-7-399Avian roosting behavior influences vector-host interactions for West Nile virus hostsWilliam M Janousek0Peter P Marra1A Marm Kilpatrick2Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of CaliforniaMigratory Bird Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological ParkDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of CaliforniaAbstract Background Extensive work has shown that vectors almost never feed at random. Often, a subset of individual hosts and host species are fed on much more frequently than expected from their abundance and this can amplify pathogen transmission. However, the drivers of variation in contact patterns between vectors and their hosts are not well understood, even in relatively well-studied systems such as West Nile virus (WNV). Methods We compared roosting height and roost aggregation size of seven avian host species of WNV with patterns of host-seeking mosquito (Culex pipiens) abundance at communal and non-communal roost sites. Results First, host-seeking mosquito abundance increased with height and paralleled increased mosquito feeding preferences on species roosting higher in the tree canopy. Second, there were several hundred-fold fewer mosquitoes per bird trapped at American robin (Turdus migratorius) communal roosts compared to non-communal roost sites, which could reduce transmission from and to this key amplifying host species. Third, seasonal changes in communal roost formation may partly explain observed seasonal changes in mosquito feeding patterns, including a decrease in feeding on communal roosting robins. Conclusions These results illustrate how variation in habitat use by hosts and vectors and social aggregation by hosts influence vector-host interactions and link the behavioral ecology of birds and the transmission of vector-borne diseases to humans.https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-7-399SocialityGroup sizeVector-host contact ratesVector:host ratioModelFlocking |
| spellingShingle | William M Janousek Peter P Marra A Marm Kilpatrick Avian roosting behavior influences vector-host interactions for West Nile virus hosts Parasites & Vectors Sociality Group size Vector-host contact rates Vector:host ratio Model Flocking |
| title | Avian roosting behavior influences vector-host interactions for West Nile virus hosts |
| title_full | Avian roosting behavior influences vector-host interactions for West Nile virus hosts |
| title_fullStr | Avian roosting behavior influences vector-host interactions for West Nile virus hosts |
| title_full_unstemmed | Avian roosting behavior influences vector-host interactions for West Nile virus hosts |
| title_short | Avian roosting behavior influences vector-host interactions for West Nile virus hosts |
| title_sort | avian roosting behavior influences vector host interactions for west nile virus hosts |
| topic | Sociality Group size Vector-host contact rates Vector:host ratio Model Flocking |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-7-399 |
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