Altered behavioral responses of Sindbis virus-infected Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) to DEET and non-DEET based insect repellents.

Abstract

Changes in the time to first bite (TFB) and the bloodfeeding behavior of adult female Aedes aegypti (L.) mosquitoes following dissemination of Sindbis virus (SINV) were observed after exposure to repellents with the active ingredients (AI) DEET, picaridin, 2-undecanone (2-U), and oil of lemon eucalyptus. Dissemination of SINV significantly decreased (P<0.0001) the TFB of DEET (15%) and picaridin (15%) by 46% and 37%, respectively. Significant (P<0.0001) changes in activation, probing, and engorgement times were observed in SINV infected mosquitoes after exposure to the four repellents compared to uninfected mosquitoes. Taken together, a decrease in TFB and time to complete the four bloodfeeding stages will lessen the prey-status, and enhance both the chances of mosquito survival and arbovirus transmission.

• Authors: Whitney A Qualls, Jonathan F Day, Rui-de Xue, Doria F Bowers
• Journal: Acta tropica (Acta Trop) Vol. 122 Issue 3 Pg. 284-90 (Jun 2012) ISSN: 1873-6254 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 22289669 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Published by Elsevier B.V.

Chemical References

• Insect Repellents
• Ketones
• Piperidines
• DEET
• picaridin
• undecan-2-one

Topics

• Aedes (drug effects, physiology, virology)
• Animals
• Behavior, Animal
• DEET (pharmacology)
• Female
• Insect Bites and Stings
• Insect Repellents (pharmacology)
• Ketones (pharmacology)
• Piperidines (pharmacology)
• Sindbis Virus (growth & development)
• Time Factors