Culicidae (Diptera) selection of humans,chickens and
rabbits in three different environments in the province of Chaco,
Argentina |
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| Authors: | Marina Stein Laura Zalazar Juana Alicia Willener Francisco Ludue?a Almeida Walter Ricardo Almirón |
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| Institution: | 1. Instituto de Medicina Regional ;2. Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Chaco, Argentina ;3. Centro de Investigaciones Entomológicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina |
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| Abstract: | Studies were conducted to determine the selection of humans, chickens
and rabbits by Culicidae in three different environments in the province of
Chaco, Argentina. Mosquitoes were collected fortnightly using cylindrical metal
traps containing animal bait (chickens and rabbits). The mosquitoes were
collected between June 2001-May 2002. During the same period and with the same
frequency, mosquitoes biting the human operators of the traps were collected
during the first 15 min of exposure within different time intervals: from 09:00
am-11:00 am, 01:00 pm-03:00 pm, 05:00 pm-07:00 pm and 09:00 pm-10:00 pm. A total
of 19,430 mosquitoes of 49 species belonging to 10 genera were collected.
Culex species mainly selected chicken bait and
Wyeomyia species selected rabbit bait.
Ochlerotatus and Psorophora species were
more abundant in rabbit-baited traps. Anopheles triannulatus,
Coquillettidia nigricans, Ochlerotatus
scapularis, Mansonia titillans and
Psorophora albigenu showed a strong attraction for human
bait. The Anopheles, Coquillettidia,
Culex and Mansonia species were more
active between 05:00 pm-09:00 pm, while Ochlerotatus,
Psorophora, Haemagogus and
Wyeomyia were most active from 09:00 am-07:00 pm. This
study provides additional information about the biology and ecology of arbovirus
vectors in Chaco. |
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| Keywords: | host selection Culicidae Chaco Argentina |
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