Parasites can be transmitted either or both, vertically or horizontally, but the costs or benefits for the host due to infection have only been tested after horizontal transmission. Here as far as we know, is reported for the first time the survival, reproduction and infection of Aedes aegypti during vertical and horizontal transmission of Dengue virus 2 (DENV-2). Females infected horizontally produced more eggs with a sex ratio skewed to males compared to uninfected controls. However, there was a not significant difference on the number of emerging adults or mothers survival. On the other hand, dengue infected female offspring (vertical transmission) had shorter lifespan but compared to controls, there were no significant differences the amounts of eggs or sex ratio. Finally, the corroboration of infection revealed that virus infected about 11.5 % and 8.8 % of pools of mothers and of daughters, respectively. These results suggest that the mode of infection and the contact with the virus has no reproductive costs on female mosquitoes, which may explain why both types of transmission are evolutionary maintained. In addition, we suggest that more attention should be paid on male contribution to virus dissemination within and among populations and as reservoirs of the infection for human diseases.
Costs and benefits of vertical and horizontal transmission of Dengue virus
2023 JEB Outstanding Paper Prize shortlist and winner
The JEB Editors are delighted to announce the shortlisted authors for the 2023 JEB Outstanding Paper Prize. Read the winning paper - Tiny spies: mosquito antennae are sensitive sensors for eavesdropping on frog calls - by Hoover Pantoja-Sanchez and Brian Leavell from Ximena Bernal's lab at Purdue University, USA.
JEB Science Communication Workshop for ECRs
If you’re an early-career researcher interested in science communication and are attending the SEB Annual Conference in Prague this summer, come a day early and join the JEB Editors at a sci comm workshop to learn the key writing skills needed to promote your research to a broad audience beyond your peers (1 July at 14.30-17.30). Places are limited to 24 attendees, and applicants should apply through the SEB registration page by 30 April 2024.
Bridging the gap between controlled conditions and natural habitats in understanding behaviour
Novel technologies enable behavioural experiments with non-model species, in naturalistic habitats and with underexplored behaviours. In their Commentary, Scholz and colleagues discuss how to obtain a deeper understanding of the natural ecology and lifestyle of study animals.
Beluga metabolic measures could help save species
To help save animals from extinction, it’s important to understand what each species needs to survive. This led Jason John et al. to measure the metabolic rates of captive belugas to develop a ‘fish calculator’ showing that the whales need to eat ~23 salmon per day.
ECR Workshop on Positive Peer Review
Are you an ECR looking for tips on how to write concise, astute and useful manuscript reviews? If so, join the JEB Editors at a 2-hour JEB-sponsored Workshop on Positive Peer Review at the Canadian Society of Zoologists annual meeting in Moncton on 9 May 2024 at 13.00-15.00. There are 25 spaces for ECRs and selection is first come, first serve. To sign up, check the ECR Workshop box when you register for the CSZ meeting.
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