Jan 19, 2018

Joshua Benoit, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati

Previous studies on arthropod vector hydration have examined very specific responses and fail to provide an encompassing view of the role that dehydration has on vector biology. Using an integrative approach, we show that dehydration increased blood feeding by arthropod vectors, which was the result of enhanced activity and a higher tendency to interact with a host. These changes are the result of altered metabolism and host sensing. Field-based mesocosm studies revealed that dehydrated arthropods were more likely to host feed. These studies indicate that the hydration status of disease vectors can have profound effects on their physiology and behavior and alters interactions with their vertebrate hosts.

The dynamics between arthropod hydration status and increasing drought prevalence with climate change will have distinct impacts on arthropod disease transmission.