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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Mosquito and Fly Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #426121
Research Project: Integrated Management of Resistance and Population Expansion of Disease Vector and Nuisance Mosquitoes

Location: Mosquito and Fly Research

Title: Host usage in Aedes aegypti collected from Houston, Texas and Phoenix, Arizona using whole mosquito third-generation sequencing blood meal analysis

Author
item CIOMPERLIK, BRITTANI - University Of Florida
item BURGESS, EDWIN - University Of Florida
item Sanscrainte, Neil
item MOSORE, MBA-TIHSSOMMAH - University Of Florida
item TOWNSEND, JOHN - Maricopa County Environmental Services, Vector Control
item WILL, JAMES - Maricopa County Environmental Services, Vector Control
item BUSSER, NICOLE - Maricopa County Environmental Services, Vector Control
item Estep Iii, Alden

Submitted to: PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/3/2026
Publication Date: 2/5/2026
Citation: Ciomperlik, B.A., Burgess, E.R., Sanscrainte, N.D., Mosore, M., Townsend, J., Will, J., Busser, N., Estep Iii, A.S. 2026. Host usage in Aedes aegypti collected from Houston, Texas and Phoenix, Arizona using whole mosquito third-generation sequencing blood meal analysis. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 17(2):175. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17020175.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17020175

Interpretive Summary: The yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, is a vector of several viral pathogens that frequently cause human disease in tropical and subtropical locations but many of these pathogens are not controlled by vaccination. As such, control of this mosquito is critical to reduce disease transmission and better understanding of the ecology of this species helps to improve the efficacy of operational control. In this study, researchers used a deep sequencing method to define patterns of host usage in two large US metropolitan areas, Houston, TX and Phoenix, AZ, with substantial Ae. aegypti infestations. Results identified frequent multiple blood feeding by individual mosquitoes and that the primary host sources were humans and their pets. Results from Phoenix indicated a broad host usage, including feeding on livestock, birds, and even reptiles. This may provide useful information about Ae. aegypti resting sites and could be used to improve treatment by operational personnel.

Technical Abstract: Aedes aegypti is the primary vector of several viruses of international public health concern, including Zika, dengue, yellow fever, and chikungunya. Their synanthropic ecology and establishment in tropical, sub-tropical, and temperate areas make Ae. aegypti one of the most medically relevant mosquito species. While they have been reported to be highly anthropophilic, several studies indicate a broader host range. They are also reported to take multiple blood meals between gonotrophic cycles. Consumption of multiple blood meals makes determination of host usage difficult when using common blood meal analysis methods. In this study, we examined host usage of Ae. aegypti in Harris County, Texas (Houston), and Maricopa County, Arizona (Phoenix), using a Nanopore-based third-generation sequencing protocol to successfully resolve host usage multiplicity and identify a broad range of host usage. Using this method, approximately 80% of samples from each location with evidence of blood feeding resulted in a blood meal species identification, with a single host blood meal in about 80% of samples and approximately 20% containing evidence of multiple blood meals. Overall, we observed a wide host usage with human DNA the most prevalent followed by feline and canine. We also identified avian, rodent, ungulate and even ectotherm usage by Aedes aegypti from Maricopa County. The discovery of hosts other than humans expands the understanding of host usage dynamics in Ae. aegypti and their involvement in arbovirus transmission systems in highly urbanized areas such as Harris and Maricopa Counties.