Research Article 2026-04-21 under-review v1

Human-Animal-Environment Interface: Blood Meal Sources and Virome Characteristics of Mosquitoes of the coastal areas in eastern China

Y
Yongting Yuan Shanghai Pudong New Area Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Shanghai Pudong New Area Health Supervision Institute)
J
Jun Liu Shanghai Pudong New Area Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Shanghai Pudong New Area Health Supervision Institute)
F
Feng Wei Shanghai Pudong New Area Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Shanghai Pudong New Area Health Supervision Institute)
C
Chen Lin Shanghai Pudong New Area Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Shanghai Pudong New Area Health Supervision Institute)
H
Huihui Li Shanghai Pudong New Area Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Shanghai Pudong New Area Health Supervision Institute)
Y
Yingpei Gu Shanghai Pudong New Area Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Shanghai Pudong New Area Health Supervision Institute)
R
Ruohua Gu Shanghai Pudong New Area Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Shanghai Pudong New Area Health Supervision Institute)
Y
Yifeng Shen Shanghai Pudong New Area Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Shanghai Pudong New Area Health Supervision Institute)
H
Hanzhao Liu Shanghai Pudong New Area Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Shanghai Pudong New Area Health Supervision Institute)

Abstract

Background:Mosquito-borne viruses are increasingly contributing to the global burden of human diseases. Among more than 500 recognized arboviruses, approximately 150 infect humans, and around 50 affect livestock and wildlife. Nevertheless, the diversity and ecological dynamics of viruses harbored within mosquito hosts remain poorly characterized. Therefore, elucidating the blood-feeding patterns and characterizing the baseline virome of local mosquito populations is critical for preventing the autochthonous transmission of imported arboviruses. Methods:Mosquitoes were collected from July to September 2025 across three habitat types (parks, residential, and rural area) using BG-Traps and resting mosquito collection techniques (Hand-held aspirator collection). Specimens were categorized by collection habitat and abdominal condition (blood-fed or unfed), and identified to species or genus level using standard taxonomic keys. Amplicon sequencing of blood meals was performed to characterize the composition, relative abundance, and diversity of vertebrate host species. Meta-transcriptomic sequencing was conducted to comprehensively profile the mosquito virome and enable precise viral taxonomic classification. Alpha and Beta diversity indices were calculated, and inter-group differences in both host feeding patterns and viral communities were statistically evaluated using R software . Results:A total of 7,768 mosquitoes were collected in Pudong New Area, dominated by Culex pipiens pallens (64.56%) and Aedes albopictus (22.27%). Amplicon sequencing of blood-engorged specimens revealed pronounced species-specific feeding patterns. Ae. albopictus exhibited strict anthropophily across all ecotones, with Homo sapiens comprising 76.16% of its blood meals. Conversely, Cx. P. pallens demonstrated strong ornithophily, predominantly utilizing the Eurasian blackbird (Turdus merula, 50.19%) as its primary host. Armigeres subalbatus and Culex tritaeniorhynchus, detected exclusively in park and rural habitats, displayed broader opportunistic feeding across galliform birds and large domestic mammals (e.g., equines and bovines). Meta-transcriptomic sequencing revealed that the core mosquito virome was overwhelmingly dominated by bacteriophages (e.g., class Caudoviricetes) and insect-specific viruses (ISVs). Notably, virome structure was driven by intrinsic mosquito species identity rather than collection habitat or transient blood-engorged status, remaining remarkably stable. Conclusion:This study decodes the complex vector-host-environment interactions in a global megacity. The strict anthropophily of Ae. albopictus exacerbates the risk of localized urban outbreaks, whereas the opportunistic feeding of Cx. P. pallens and rural vectors establishes critical zoonotic bridge pathways. Combined with the intrinsic stability of the holobiont virome, these findings underscore that effective mosquito-borne disease mitigation requires precision surveillance and biocontrol strategies tailored to species-specific ecological niches rather than generalized interventions.

Citation Information

@article{yongtingyuan2026,
  title={Human-Animal-Environment Interface: Blood Meal Sources and Virome Characteristics of Mosquitoes of the coastal areas in eastern China},
  author={Yongting Yuan and Jun Liu and Feng Wei and Chen Lin and Huihui Li and Yingpei Gu and Ruohua Gu and Yifeng Shen and Hanzhao Liu},
  journal={Parasites & Vectors},
  year={2026},
  doi={https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9289934/v1}
}
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