Meeting Abstract

P2.9  Wednesday, Jan. 5  The Effect of the Malaria Parasite Haemoproteus columbae on Blood-Meal Digestion by its Vector HENRY, AUTUMN R.*; WAITE, JESSICA L.; CLAYTON, DALE H.; University of Utah; University of Utah; University of Utah hylianmedli@gmail.com

Vectors play an important role in transmitting blood-borne parasites and pathogens between hosts. While the effects of such parasites on vertebrate hosts have been well studied, effects of the parasites on their vectors remain largely unknown. In this experiment we tested if the feeding and blood meal digestion of a hippoboscid fly (Pseudolynchia canariensis) is impacted by the blood parasite infection status of its natural host, the Rock Pigeon (Columba livia). We used the pigeon malaria parasite Haemoproteus columbae for this study. We determined the natural infection status of wild-caught birds, then added small populations of individually marked flies to birds either infected with the malaria parasite or not infected. Flies were allowed to feed for a set period of time then collected from the bird and placed in individual vials. The flies were weighed before addition to the birds and then daily following removal to monitor blood meal size and rate of digestion in the two treatments. We compare blood meal size and digestion rate between the two treatments, as well as survival. We also compare male flies to female flies within treatments and between treatments to look for sex-specific differences in these measures. Understanding how vectors are affected by parasite transmission may have implications for how vector-parasite relationships have developed over time.