AUTHOR=Martínez-de la Puente Josué , Soriguer Ramón , Senar Juan Carlos , Figuerola Jordi , Bueno-Mari Rubén , Montalvo Tomás 

TITLE=Mosquitoes in an Urban Zoo: Identification of Blood Meals, Flight Distances of Engorged Females, and Avian Malaria Infections

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=7

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.00460

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2020.00460

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p>Zoological gardens are home to a large number of vertebrate species and as such are suitable sites for both mosquito breeding and maintenance. They are excellent places for entomological studies of mosquito phenology, diversity, and blood-feeding patterns, as well as for xenomonitoring. During 2016, we sampled mosquitoes in Barcelona Zoo and used molecular methods to determine their blood-feeding patterns and the prevalence and diversity of avian malaria parasites. We also estimated the flight distance of engorged mosquitoes in the area. Overall, 1,384 adult <italic>Culex pipiens</italic> s.l., <italic>Culiseta longiareolata</italic>, and <italic>Aedes albopictus</italic> were captured. Birds dominated the diet of <italic>Cx. pipiens</italic> s.l. (<italic>n</italic> = 87) and <italic>Cs. longiareolata</italic> (<italic>n</italic> = 6), while humans were the only blood-meal source of <italic>Ae. albopictus</italic> (<italic>n</italic> = 3). Mosquitoes had a mean flight distance of 95.67 m after feeding on blood (range 38.71–168.51 m). Blood parasites were detected in the abdomen of 13 engorged <italic>Cx. pipiens</italic> s.l., eight of which had fed on magpies. Four <italic>Plasmodium</italic> lineages and a single lineage of the malaria-like parasite <italic>Haemoproteus</italic> were identified. These results suggest that <italic>Cx. pipiens</italic> s.l. is involved in the local transmission of avian <italic>Plasmodium</italic>, which potentially affects the circulation of parasites between and within wildlife and enclosed animals. Vigilance regarding possible mosquito breeding sites in this zoo is thus recommended.</p>