A long-term field study on mosquito vectors of avian malaria parasites in Japan

• DOI: 10.1292/jvms.22-0211
• Publication Date: 2022-08-15T22:09:51Z
• Authors: Taichi ODAGAWA; Mizue INUMARU; Yukita SATO; Koichi MURATA; Yukiko HIGA; Yoshio TSUDA
• Keywords: Avian Malaria; Plasmodium (life cycle); Aedes albopictus; Culex pipiens

Avian malaria is a mosquito-borne disease of birds caused by avian Plasmodium spp. in worldwide scale. Some naïve show serious symptoms which can result death. Surveillance vectors and parasites are important to understand control this disease. Although has been found Japan, detailed prevalence dynamics remained understudied. We aimed observe annual changes the abundance mosquitoes Japan. Mosquitoes were collected using dry ice traps over 10-year period, at fixed research area located Kanagawa prefecture. Collected investigated for species composition, population size PCR. belonging 13 7 genera (n=8,965). The dominant Aedes (Ae.) albopictus Culex (Cx.) pipiens group (gr.). Seven lineages, all previously known, detected from Cx. gr., Ae. albopictus, Tripteroides bambusa. Three genetic lineages probably transmitted gr. whose could be primary vector these parasites. Annual variations seasonal revealed first time during recent 10 years Namely, occurrence peaked often June July September October when density was presumably high enough transmission upon appearance infected birds.