# Smelly interactions: host-borne volatile organic compounds triggering behavioural responses in mosquitoes, sand flies, and ticks

## TL;DR

This paper explores how volatile organic compounds (VOCs) influence the behavior of disease-carrying insects like mosquitoes and ticks, and how they can be used for diagnosis and control.

## Contribution

The paper reviews VOCs as behavioral cues and diagnostic tools for vector-borne diseases, highlighting their role in host-seeking behavior.

## Key findings

- VOCs influence arthropod vector behavior, including host preference and oviposition.
- Pathogens like Plasmodium falciparum and Leishmania infantum may alter VOCs to increase host attractiveness.
- VOCs have potential as attractants, repellents, and diagnostic tools for vector-borne diseases.

## Abstract

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals emitted as products of cell metabolism, which reflects the physiological and pathological conditions of any living organisms. These compounds play a key role as olfactory cues for arthropod vectors such as mosquitoes, sand flies, and ticks, which act in the transmission of pathogens to many animal species, including humans. Some VOCs may influence arthropod behaviour, e.g., host preference and oviposition site selection for gravid females. Furthermore, deadly vector-borne pathogens such as Plasmodium falciparum and Leishmania infantum are suggested to manipulate the VOCs profile of the host to make them more attractive to mosquitoes and sand fly vectors, respectively. Under the above circumstances, studies on these compounds have demonstrated their potential usefulness for investigating the behavioural response of mosquitoes, sand flies, and ticks toward their vertebrate hosts, as well as potential tools for diagnosis of vector-borne diseases (VBDs). Herein, we provide an account for scientific data available on VOCs to study the host seeking behaviour of arthropod vectors, and their usefulness as attractants, repellents, or tools for an early diagnosis of VBDs.