Malaria-induced changes in host odors enhance mosquito attraction

TLDR

Vector‑borne pathogens can manipulate host odors to alter vector attraction, which may influence the design of olfactory lures, repellents, and disease diagnostics. Infected mice emit higher levels of volatiles and distinct odor signatures that enhance mosquito attraction during the post‑acute, highly infectious phase of Plasmodium chabaudii infection, and these odor differences persist throughout the course of infection.

Abstract

Significance Recent research suggests that vector-borne pathogens may frequently manipulate host odors to influence vector attraction. Such effects could have implications for the use of olfactory lures or repellents to disrupt vector transmission, as well as for disease diagnosis. We observed enhanced attraction of mosquitoes to mice infected by the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium chabaudii during a key period after the subsidence of acute malaria symptoms but during which mice remained highly infectious. This attraction appears to be mediated by an overall elevation of volatile emissions from infected individuals and characteristic changes in the levels of individual compounds. Furthermore, clear differences in the odor profiles of healthy and infected individuals persist throughout the course of infection.