Download or read book Feeding Behaviors and Response of Sindbis Virus Infected Aedes Aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) to Repellents written by Whitney Allyn Qualls and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 97 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When exposed to 2-undeconane and lemon eucalyptus, mosquitoes with dissemination disseminated Sindbis virus infection located the bloodmeal 1 h sooner than did uninfected Ae. aegypti. Together, these results indicate that behavioral changes in mosquito host-seeking, bloodfeeding, and sensitivity to repellents occurred in mosquitoes following Sindbis virus dissemination. My findings also suggest that when the virus has crossed the gut barriers and is poised for potential transmission the mosquito may be less responsive to repellent use. Understanding the physiological basis for these behavior changes, especially the decrease in susceptibility to DEET, the gold standard of repellents, is important in the prevention of diseases caused by mosquito-borne viruses. While prolonged feeding duration and increased body weight after a bloodmeal may hamper mosquito survival, a decrease in sensitivity to repellents enhances a mosquitoes' ability to bloodfeed on humans. Extended bloodfeeding by infected mosquitoes could result in interrupted feedings, a phenomenon that can result in an increase in virus transmission.