MSc.
Jirayu Nuadthaisong
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University
Title: DNA Metabarcoding of Mosquito Blood Meals Reveals Host-Vector Interactions across Interfaces in Chiang Rai and Chanthaburi provinces, Thailand
Name(s): Jirayu Nuadthaisong1, Hans J Overgaard2,3, Rebecca Emma Brown2, Sutharini Rakkiattikhun1, Sirada Patthawaro1, Sittichoke Ketkaeo1, Watcharapong Panthong1, Thawaree Nukpook1, Suwalak Chitcharoen1, Sirinart Aromseree1, Supranee Phantanawiboon1, Tipaya Ekalaksananan1 and Chamsai Pientong1
1Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
2Faculty of Science and Technology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
3Department of Microbiology and Tropical Disease Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Understanding of mosquito blood-feeding behavior at ecological interfaces is crucial for predicting the zoonotic disease transmission. In Thailand, traditional ELISA and multiplex PCR often underestimate ecological complexity due to pre-selected targets. This study identified hosts and characterize the feeding patterns of mosquitoes in varied ecological setting in Thailand. Mosquitoes were collected from five ecological interfaces (temples, households, orchards, dumpsites, and forests) in Chanthaburi and Chiang Rai provinces using Prokopack aspirators, resting boxes, and traps. Blood-fed mosquitoes comprises of 14 species (n=103), with Culex quinquefasciatus predominant (n=48), followed by Cx. vishnui (n=17), Aedes aegypti (n=12), and Cx. gelidus (n=7). Ten other species were recorded, including six represented by single specimens. DNA metabarcoding of mitochondrial 12S and 16S rRNA genes with Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) achieved a 96.1% (99/103) host detection rate, revealing 11 vertebrate species. Regarding host prevalence within the engorged mosquitoes, identified hosts included human (95.0%), zoonotic reservoirs such as pigs (Sus scrofa, 5.1%), which are critical for the transmission of JEV, chicken (Gallus gallus, 4.0%), cattle (Bos indicus, 8.1% and Bos taurus, 2.0%), domestic animals like dogs (Canis lupus, 42.4%) and cats (Felis catus, 2.0%), wildlife: Indochinese ground squirrels (Menetes berdmorei, 6.1%), African green monkey (Chlorocebus sabaeus, 4.0%), wild canids (Canis sp., 2.0%), and the common house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus, 1.0%). Generalist feeding in genera of Culex and Aedes were recognized as a critical factor for pathogen spillover. Mosquitoes act as ecological bridges through complex feeding, notably a rare quadruple-host feeding event in Culex vishnui involving humans, dogs, squirrels, and cattle. Collectively, these results across multiple samples indicate host selection is driven by fidelity toward humans-dogs, alongside opportunistic feeding based on host availability. The detection of diverse vertebrates demonstrates the broad-spectrum efficacy of this metabarcoding approach, provide critical data for targeted xeno-surveillance and localized public health strategies in Thailand.
Biography of the presenting author
Jirayu Nuadthaisong has completed his BSc at the age of 22 years from Chiang Mai University and recieved MSc degree from Graduate school, Mahidol University. He is the Research assistant of Pandemic Literacy and Viral Zoonotic Spillover Risk at the Frontline of Disease Emergence in Southeast Asia to Improve Pandemic Preparedness (PANDASIA) project at Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University. The research area focused on identifies virus species across the environment, animals, and humans in Southeast Asia in order to preventing future pandemics by understanding the drivers of zoonotic spillover, the process where viruses jump from animals to humans.
Presenting author details
Full name: Jirayu Nuadthaisong
Contact number: (+66) 0826853967
Email: Jirayu.vip2540@gmail.com
ORCID: 0000-0001-8097-9762
Session name/ number: Zoonosis and One Health
Category: Oral presentation