Mosquitoes are considered to be the deadliest animals in the world due to the diseases they spread. Naturally, most research centers around anthropophilic disease vector mosquitoes such as Aedes aegypti or Anopheles gambiae. However, mosquitoes can feed on, and pose a threat to, more than humans. In fact, mosquitoes can specialize in feeding on a wide variety of hosts, including ectotherms such as amphibians and reptiles. Culex territans is a mosquito that feeds primarily on amphibians and reptiles and is known to transmit parasites to its hosts. However, little else is known about this mosquito. This work dives into the biology, physiology, and vector potential of this mosquito species to provide critical insights into understanding the evolution of feeding on endotherms as well as the importance of Cx. territans to amphibian health. The first study investigates activity patterns and feeding behaviors as well as the potential cues that may attract this mosquito to its hosts. We also compare transcriptomics and anatomy of the heads of three Culex species. The second study compares three Culex species' thermopreference and host-seeking to understand the effects of the differences of geographical distribution and preferred hosts. The last three studies determine the presence of ranaviruses, giant anuran trypanosomes, and the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis at Mountain Lake Biological Station and explore the potential role of Cx. territans in transmitting these pathogens. Overall, this work provides insights into the biology of Cx. territans and the implications it may have for understanding endotherm-feeding mosquitoes and amphibian disease epidemiology. / Doctor of Philosophy / We are all familiar with the annoying buzzing sound and itching bite of a mosquito. But mosquitoes are more than irritating: they are considered the deadliest animal in the world because of their ability to spread deadly diseases such as malaria and yellow fever to humans. However, not all mosquitoes bite humans. In fact, mosquitoes can feed on the blood of just about any animal, including worms. This work focuses on Culex territans, the northern frog-biting mosquito, which feeds mostly on the blood of amphibians, like frogs and toads. This fascinating mosquito species is present around the world, living in freshwater ponds alongside frogs, but we know very little about it. For example, how does a frog-biting mosquito find a frog host to bite? Once the mosquito bites, how is it able to feed on cold, thick blood through a tiny straw that makes up its mouthparts? While it is feeding, is it spreading diseases that could harm the frog? Because amphibians are experiencing extinctions worldwide, it is important to know if mosquitoes could be involved in their demise. These questions inspired this work to better understand the biology of Cx. territans and to shed light on the biology of other disease-spreading mosquitoes.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/116233 |
| Date | 06 September 2023 |
| Creators | Reinhold, Joanna Marie |
| Contributors | Biochemistry, Lahondere, Chloe Aude, Tholl, Dorothea, Paulson, Sally L., Vinauger Tella, Clement |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Dissertation |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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