Host selection and parasite infection in Aedes taeniorhynchus, endemic disease vector in the Galápagos Islands

Research on the black salt-marsh mosquito (Aedes taeniorhynchus) in the Galápagos Islands reveals that this endemic species, while primarily feeding on mammals and reptiles, may also play a role in maintaining avian vector-borne pathogens. Blood-meal analysis and PCR-based parasite screening identified filarial worms and Haemoproteus parasites, suggesting rare but significant bird-feeding events. Additionally, three distinct Hepatozoon DNA sequences were isolated from mosquitoes and iguanas, indicating multiple parasite species in the archipelago. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that A. taeniorhynchus may have facilitated a recent breakdown in host-species associations of these parasites, altering their evolutionary dynamics.

Bataille, A., Fournié, G., Cruz, M., Cedeño, V., Parker, P. G., Cunningham, A. A., & Goodman, S. J. (2012). Host selection and parasite infection in Aedes taeniorhynchus, endemic disease vector in the Galápagos Islands. Infection, Genetics and Evolution, 12(8), 1831–1841. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meegid.2012.07.019