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Ferreira FC, González J, Milholland MT, Tung GA, Fonseca DM. Ticks (Acari: Ixodida) on synanthropic small and medium-sized mammals in areas of the northeastern United States infested with the Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis. Int J Parasitol 2023; 53:809-819. [PMID: 37467875 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
The northeastern United States (US) is a hotspot for tick-borne diseases. Adding to an already complex vector landscape, in 2017 large populations of the invasive Haemaphysalis longicornis, the Asian longhorned tick, were detected in New Jersey (NJ) and later found to be widespread from Connecticut to Georgia. In its native range in northeastern Asia, H. longicornis is considered an important vector of deadly pathogens to humans, companion animals, and livestock. To identify the primary hosts of H. longicornis, we surveyed synanthropic small and medium-sized mammals in three different sites in suburban New Brunswick, NJ. Specifically, we collected approximately 9,000 tick specimens belonging to nine species from 11 different species of mammals sampled between May and September 2021. We found that H. longicornis feeds more frequently on rodents than previously thought, and that this invasive tick is likely exposed to important enzootic and zoonotic pathogens. Overall, we obtained detailed information about the seasonal dynamics and feeding patterns of six tick species common in the northeastern US, Haemaphysalis longicornis, Amblyomma americanum, Dermacentor variabilis, Ixodes scapularis, Ixodes texanus and Ixodes cookei. We found that unlike I. scapularis that feeds on mammals of all sizes, H. longicornis feeds on hosts following the general pattern of A. americanum, favoring larger species such as skunks, groundhogs, and raccoons. However, our survey revealed that unlike A. americanum, H. longicornis reaches high densities on Virginia opossum. Overall, the newly invasive H. longicornis was the most numerous tick species, both on multiple host species and in the environment, raising significant questions regarding its role in the epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens, especially those affecting livestock, companion animals and wildlife. In conclusion, our findings provide valuable insights into the tick species composition on mammalian hosts in NJ and the ongoing national expansion of H. longicornis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco C Ferreira
- Center for Vector Biology, Entomology Department, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
| | - Julia González
- Center for Vector Biology, Entomology Department, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA. https://twitter.com/JulsGGlez
| | - Matthew T Milholland
- AGNR-Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Grayson A Tung
- Center for Vector Biology, Entomology Department, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Dina M Fonseca
- Center for Vector Biology, Entomology Department, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
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Arsenault-Benoit A, Fritz ML. Spatiotemporal organization of cryptic North American Culex species along an urbanization gradient. ECOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS AND EVIDENCE 2023; 4:e12282. [PMID: 38898889 PMCID: PMC11185319 DOI: 10.1002/2688-8319.12282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Landscape heterogeneity creates diverse habitat and resources for mosquito vectors of disease. A consequence may be varied distribution and abundance of vector species over space and time dependent on niche requirements.We tested the hypothesis that landscape heterogeneity driven by urbanization influences the distribution and relative abundance of Culex pipiens, Cx. restuans, and Cx. quinquefasciatus, three vectors of West Nile virus (WNv) in the eastern North American landscape. We collected 9,803 cryptic Culex from urban, suburban, and rural sites in metropolitan Washington, District of Columbia, during the months of June-October, 2019-2021. In 2021, we also collected mosquitoes in April and May to measure early-season abundance and distribution. Molecular techniques were used to identify a subset of collected Culex to species (n = 2,461). Ecological correlates of the spatiotemporal distribution of these cryptic Culex were examined using constrained and unconstrained ordination.Seasonality was not associated with Culex community composition in June-October over three years but introducing April and May data revealed seasonal shifts in community composition in the final year of our study. Culex pipiens were dominant across site types, while Cx. quinquefasciatus were associated with urban environments, and Cx. restuans were associated with rural and suburban sites. All three species rarely coexisted.Our work demonstrates that human-mediated land-use changes influence the distribution and relative abundance of Culex vectors of WNv, even on fine geospatial scales. Site classification, percent impervious surface, distance to city center, and longitude predicted Culex community composition. We documented active Culex months before vector surveillance typically commences in this region, with Culex restuans being most abundant during April and May. Active suppression of Cx. restuans in April and May could reduce early enzootic transmission, delay the seasonal spread of WNv, and thereby reduce overall WNv burden. By June, the highest risk of epizootic spillover of WNv to human hosts may be in suburban areas with high human population density and mixed Culex assemblages that can transmit WNv between birds and humans. Focusing management efforts there may further reduce human disease burden.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Megan L. Fritz
- Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
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Lopez K, Irwin P, Bron GM, Paskewitz S, Bartholomay L. Ultra-low volume (ULV) adulticide treatment impacts age structure of Culex species (Diptera: Culicidae) in a West Nile virus hotspot. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 60:1108-1116. [PMID: 37473814 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) invaded the continental United States over 20 years ago and continues to cause yearly seasonal outbreaks of human and veterinary disease. In the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, ultra-low volume (ULV) truck-mounted adulticide spraying frequently is performed to reduce populations of Culex restuans Theobald and Cx. pipiens L. mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in an effort to lower the risk of WNV transmission. The effectiveness of this control method has not been rigorously evaluated, and evidence for Culex population reduction after ULV adulticide spraying has been inconclusive. Therefore, we evaluated the results of 5 sequential weekly truck-mounted adulticide applications of Zenivex® E20 (etofenprox) in 2 paired sites located in Cook County, IL, during the summer of 2018. Mosquito population abundance, age structure, and WNV infection prevalence were monitored and compared between paired treatment and nearby control sites. Adulticide treatment did not result in consistent short-term or long-term reductions in target WNV vector Culex abundance. However, there was a significant increase in the proportion of nulliparous females in the treated sites compared to control sites and a decrease in Cx. pipiens WNV infection rates at one of the treated sites. This evidence that ULV adulticide spraying altered the age structure and WNV infection prevalence in a vector population has important implications for WNV transmission risk management. Our findings also underscore the importance of measuring these important indicators in addition to abundance metrics when evaluating the efficacy of control methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Lopez
- Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Patrick Irwin
- Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Northwest Mosquito Abatement District, Wheeling, IL, USA
| | - Gebienna M Bron
- Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology Animal Science Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, NL, USA
| | - Susan Paskewitz
- Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Lyric Bartholomay
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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Occi JL, Price DC, Hall M, Campbell V, Stronsick S, Sullivan CF, Pesapane R, Gonzalez J, Toledo A, Fonseca DM. Rickettsia and relapsing fever Borrelia in Alectorobius kelleyi (Ixodida: Argasidae) from peri domestic bats in the northeastern United States. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102157. [PMID: 36917863 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023]
Abstract
The soft ticks (Argasidae) are known vectors of human and animal pathogens around the globe and are relatively understudied. Our aim was to assess the presence of Rickettsia and Borrelia bacteria in Alectorobius kelleyi (Argasidae) parasitizing synanthropic bats in the highly urbanized northeastern United States. By collaborating with parasitologists, bat scientists and wildlife rehabilitators we were successful in obtaining A. kelleyi from five states. Since Argasid larvae will attach to their hosts for many days, most A. kelleyi examined (92%) were larvae collected from sick or injured big brown bats, Eptesicus fuscus, undergoing care at rehabilitation centers. In addition, we obtained adult A. kelleyi captured in residential living areas and trapped in attics. An in-depth analysis of a A. kelleyi found to be infected with a spotted fever group Rickettsia (SFGR) revealed a dual infection with a R. belli-like taxon (ancestral group) as well as an SFGR closely related to R. peacockii, likely the same previously found in A. kelleyi from Iowa and Kansas. We found that 36% of the A. kelleyi tested carried the SFGR. Furthermore, we detected a relapsing fever spirochete, likely Candidatus Borrelia johnsonii, in 25% of the A. kelleyi from Pennsylvania. While it is unclear if these bacteria constitute a health risk to either bats or humans, our study indicates that human exposure to ectoparasites infesting peridomestic wildlife should be considered in the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- James L Occi
- Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
| | - Dana C Price
- Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - MacKenzie Hall
- New Jersey Fish and Wildlife, Endangered and Nongame Species Program, Lebanon, NJ, USA.
| | | | | | - Cheryl F Sullivan
- University of Vermont, Entomology Research Laboratory, Burlington, VT, USA.
| | - Risa Pesapane
- Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; School of Environment and Natural Resources, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Julia Gonzalez
- Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Alvaro Toledo
- Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Dina M Fonseca
- Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
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Kipp EJ, Lindsey LL, Milstein MS, Blanco CM, Baker JP, Faulk C, Oliver JD, Larsen PA. Nanopore adaptive sampling for targeted mitochondrial genome sequencing and bloodmeal identification in hematophagous insects. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:68. [PMID: 36788607 PMCID: PMC9930342 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05679-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Blood-feeding insects are important vectors for an array of zoonotic pathogens. While previous efforts toward generating molecular resources have largely focused on major vectors of global medical and veterinary importance, molecular data across a large number of hematophagous insect taxa remain limited. Advancements in long-read sequencing technologies and associated bioinformatic pipelines provide new opportunities for targeted sequencing of insect mitochondrial (mt) genomes. For engorged hematophagous insects, such technologies can be leveraged for both insect mitogenome genome assembly and identification of vertebrate blood-meal sources. METHODS We used nanopore adaptive sampling (NAS) to sequence genomic DNA from four species of field-collected, blood-engorged mosquitoes (Aedes and Culex spp.) and one deer fly (Chrysops sp.). NAS was used for bioinformatical enrichment of mtDNA reads of hematophagous insects and potential vertebrate blood-meal hosts using publically available mt genomes as references. We also performed an experimental control to compare results of traditional non-NAS nanopore sequencing to the mt genome enrichment by the NAS method. RESULTS Complete mitogenomes were assembled and annotated for all five species sequenced with NAS: Aedes trivittatus, Aedes vexans, Culex restuans, Culex territans and the deer fly, Chrysops niger. In comparison to data generated during our non-NAS control experiment, NAS yielded a substantially higher proportion of reference-mapped mtDNA reads, greatly streamlining downstream mitogenome assembly and annotation. The NAS-assembled mitogenomes ranged in length from 15,582 to 16,045 bp, contained between 78.1% and 79.0% A + T content and shared the anticipated arrangement of 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNAs, and 22 transfer RNAs. Maximum likelihood phylogenies were generated to further characterize each insect species. Additionally, vertebrate blood-meal analysis was successful in three samples sequenced, with mtDNA-based phylogenetic analyses revealing that blood-meal sources for Chrysops niger, Culex restuans and Aedes trivittatus were human, house sparrow (Passer domesticus) and eastern cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our findings show that NAS has dual utility to simultaneously molecularly identify hematophagous insects and their blood-meal hosts. Moreover, our data indicate NAS can facilitate a wide array of mitogenomic systematic studies through novel 'phylogenetic capture' methods. We conclude that the NAS approach has great potential for broadly improving genomic resources used to identify blood-feeding insects, answer phylogenetic questions and elucidate complex pathways for the transmission of vector-borne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan J. Kipp
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN USA
| | - Laramie L. Lindsey
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN USA
| | - Marissa S. Milstein
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN USA
| | - Cristina M. Blanco
- College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN USA
| | - Julia P. Baker
- College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN USA
| | - Christopher Faulk
- Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN USA
| | - Jonathan D. Oliver
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
| | - Peter A. Larsen
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN USA
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Bondo KJ, Montecino‐Latorre D, Williams L, Helwig M, Duren K, Hutchinson ML, Walter WD. Spatial modeling of two mosquito vectors of West Nile virus using integrated nested Laplace approximations. Ecosphere 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kristin J. Bondo
- Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit The Pennsylvania State University University Park Pennsylvania USA
| | - Diego Montecino‐Latorre
- Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit The Pennsylvania State University University Park Pennsylvania USA
| | - Lisa Williams
- Pennsylvania Game Commission, Bureau of Wildlife Management Harrisburg Pennsylvania USA
| | - Matt Helwig
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Harrisburg Pennsylvania USA
| | - Kenneth Duren
- Pennsylvania Game Commission, Bureau of Wildlife Management Harrisburg Pennsylvania USA
| | | | - W. David Walter
- U.S. Geological Survey, Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit The Pennsylvania State University University Park Pennsylvania USA
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7
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Perrin A, Glaizot O, Christe P. Worldwide impacts of landscape anthropization on mosquito abundance and diversity: A meta-analysis. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:6857-6871. [PMID: 36107000 PMCID: PMC9828797 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, the emergence and resurgence of vector-borne diseases have been well documented worldwide, especially in tropical regions where protection and defense tools for human populations are still very limited. In this context, the dynamics of pathogens are influenced by landscape anthropization (i.e., urbanization, deforestation, and agricultural development), and one of the mechanisms through which this occurs is a change in the abundance and/or diversity of the vectors. An increasing number of empirical studies have described heterogeneous effects of landscape anthropization on vector communities; therefore, it is difficult to have an overall picture of these effects on a global scale. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to quantify the impacts of landscape anthropization on a global scale on the presence/abundance and diversity of mosquitoes, the most important arthropods affecting human health. We obtained 338 effect sizes on 132 mosquito species, compiled from 107 studies in 52 countries that covered almost every part of the world. The results of the meta-analysis showed an overall decline of mosquito presence/abundance and diversity in response to urbanization, deforestation, and agricultural development, except for a few mosquito species that have been able to exploit landscape anthropization well. Our results highlighted that these few favored mosquito species are those of global concern. They, thus, provide a better understanding of the overall effect of landscape anthropization on vector communities and, more importantly, suggest a greater risk of emergence and transmission of vector-borne diseases in human-modified landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Perrin
- Department of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Olivier Glaizot
- Department of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
- Museum of ZoologyLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Philippe Christe
- Department of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
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8
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Kyle KE, Allen MC, Dragon J, Bunnell JF, Reinert HK, Zappalorti R, Jaffe BD, Angle JC, Lockwood JL. Combining surface and soil environmental DNA with artificial cover objects to improve terrestrial reptile survey detection. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2022; 36:e13939. [PMID: 35603473 PMCID: PMC10087970 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Reptiles are increasingly of conservation concern due to their susceptibility to habitat loss, emerging disease, and harvest in the wildlife trade. However, reptile populations are often difficult to monitor given the frequency of crypsis in their life history. This difficulty has left uncertain the conservation status of many species and the efficacy of conservation actions unknown. Environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys consistently elevate the detection rate of species they are designed to monitor, and while their use is promising for terrestrial reptile conservation, successes in developing such surveys have been sparse. We tested the degree to which inclusion of surface and soil eDNA sampling into conventional artificial-cover methods elevates the detection probability of a small, cryptic terrestrial lizard, Scincella lateralis. The eDNA sampling of cover object surfaces with paint rollers elevated per sample detection probabilities for this species 4-16 times compared with visual surveys alone. We readily detected S. lateralis eDNA under cover objects up to 2 weeks after the last visual detection, and at some cover objects where no S. lateralis were visually observed in prior months. With sufficient sampling intensity, eDNA testing of soil under cover objects produced comparable per sample detection probabilities as roller surface methods. Our results suggest that combining eDNA and cover object methods can considerably increase the detection power of reptile monitoring programs, allowing more accurate estimates of population size, detection of temporal and spatial changes in habitat use, and tracking success of restoration efforts. Further research into the deposition and decay rates of reptile eDNA under cover objects, as well as tailored protocols for different species and habitats, is needed to bring the technique into widespread use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen E Kyle
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Michael C Allen
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Jeffrey Dragon
- New Jersey Pinelands Commission, Pemberton, New Jersey, USA
| | - John F Bunnell
- New Jersey Pinelands Commission, Pemberton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Howard K Reinert
- Department of Biology, The College of New Jersey, Ewing, New Jersey, USA
| | | | | | - Jordan C Angle
- ExxonMobil Upstream Integrated Solutions, Spring, Texas, USA
| | - Julie L Lockwood
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
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Adelman JS, Tokarz RE, Euken AE, Field EN, Russell MC, Smith RC. Relative Influence of Land Use, Mosquito Abundance, and Bird Communities in Defining West Nile Virus Infection Rates in Culex Mosquito Populations. INSECTS 2022; 13:758. [PMID: 36135459 PMCID: PMC9502061 DOI: 10.3390/insects13090758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Since its introduction to North America in 1999, the West Nile virus (WNV) has resulted in over 50,000 human cases and 2400 deaths. WNV transmission is maintained via mosquito vectors and avian reservoir hosts, yet mosquito and avian infections are not uniform across ecological landscapes. As a result, it remains unclear whether the ecological communities of the vectors or reservoir hosts are more predictive of zoonotic risk at the microhabitat level. We examined this question in central Iowa, representative of the midwestern United States, across a land use gradient consisting of suburban interfaces with natural and agricultural habitats. At eight sites, we captured mosquito abundance data using New Jersey light traps and monitored bird communities using visual and auditory point count surveys. We found that the mosquito minimum infection rate (MIR) was better predicted by metrics of the mosquito community than metrics of the bird community, where sites with higher proportions of Culex pipiens group mosquitoes during late summer (after late July) showed higher MIRs. Bird community metrics did not significantly influence mosquito MIRs across sites. Together, these data suggest that the microhabitat suitability of Culex vector species is of greater importance than avian community composition in driving WNV infection dynamics at the urban and agricultural interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- James S. Adelman
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA
| | - Ryan E. Tokarz
- Department of Entomology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
- Department of International and Global Health, Mercer University, Macon, GA 31207, USA
| | - Alec E. Euken
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Eleanor N. Field
- Department of Entomology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Marie C. Russell
- Department of Entomology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Ryan C. Smith
- Department of Entomology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
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Tawidian P, Jumpponen A, Michel K. Patterns of Fungal Community Assembly Across Two Culex Mosquito Species. Front Ecol Evol 2022; 10. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.911085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the aquatic environment, mosquito larvae encounter bacteria and fungi that assemble into bacterial and fungal communities. The composition and impact of mosquito-associated bacterial community has been reported across larvae of various mosquito species. However, knowledge on the composition of mosquito-associated fungal communities and the drivers of their assembly remain largely unclear, particularly across mosquito species. In this study, we used high throughput sequencing of the fungal Internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) metabarcode marker to identify fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) associated with field-collected Culex restuans and Culex pipiens larvae and their breeding water. Our analyses identified diverse fungal communities across larval breeding sites collected on a fine geographic scale. Our data show that the larval breeding site is the major determinant of fungal community assembly in these mosquito species. We also identified distinct fungal communities in guts and carcasses within each species. However, these tissue-specific patterns were less evident in Cx. restuans than in Cx. pipiens larvae. The broad ecological patterns of fungal community assembly in mosquito larvae did not vary between OTU and ASV analyses. Together, this study provides the first insight into the fungal community composition and diversity in field collected Cx. restuans and Cx. pipiens larvae using OTUs and ASVs. While these findings largely recapitulate our previous analyses in Aedes albopictus larvae, we report minor differences in tissue-specific fungal community assembly in Cx. restuans larvae. Our results suggest that while the fungal community assembly in mosquito larvae may be generalized across mosquito species, variation in larval feeding behavior may impact fungal community assembly in the guts of mosquito larvae.
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11
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Zettle M, Anderson E, LaDeau SL. Changes in Container-Breeding Mosquito Diversity and Abundance Along an Urbanization Gradient are Associated With Dominance of Arboviral Vectors. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:843-854. [PMID: 35388898 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Environmental conditions associated with urbanization are likely to influence the composition and abundance of mosquito (Diptera, Culicidae) assemblages through effects on juvenile stages, with important consequences for human disease risk. We present six years (2011-2016) of weekly juvenile mosquito data from distributed standardized ovitraps and evaluate how variation in impervious cover and temperature affect the composition and abundance of container-breeding mosquito species in Maryland, USA. Species richness and evenness were lowest at sites with high impervious cover (>60% in 100-m buffer). However, peak diversity was recorded at sites with intermediate impervious cover (28-35%). Four species were observed at all sites, including two recent invasives (Aedes albopictus Skuse, Ae. japonicus Theobald), an established resident (Culex pipiens L), and one native (Cx. restuans Theobald). All four are viral vectors in zoonotic or human transmission cycles. Temperature was a positive predictor of weekly larval abundance during the growing season for each species, as well as a positive predictor of rapid pupal development. Despite being observed at all sites, each species responded differently to impervious cover. Abundance of Ae. albopictus larvae was positively associated with impervious cover, emphasizing that this medically-important vector not only persists in the warmer, impervious urban landscape but is positively associated with it. Positive temperature effects in our models of larval abundance and pupae occurrence in container habitats suggest that these four vector species are likely to continue to be present and abundant in temperate cities under future temperature scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- MyKenna Zettle
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY 12545, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA
| | - Elsa Anderson
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY 12545, USA
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12
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Sullivan CF, Occi JL, Brennan JR, Robbins RG, Skinner M, Bennett AB, Parker BL, Fonseca DM. First Report of the Bat Tick Carios kelleyi (Acari: Ixodida: Argasidae) From Vermont, United States. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:784-787. [PMID: 35041004 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The soft tick Carios kelleyi (Cooley and Kohls, 1941) is an ectoparasite of bats that can harbor bacteria known to cause disease in humans, such as Rickettsia spp., Bartonella spp., and relapsing fever Borrelia spp. Human-tick encounters may occur when bats occupy attics or similar dwellings with access points to human-inhabited areas. During May 2021, a partially engorged adult female C. kelleyi was collected from a Vermont home with an attic that was being used as a roost by big brown bats, Eptesicus fuscus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae). The source of the blood in the tick was the domestic dog, Canis lupus familiaris. Subsequently, eight C. kelleyi larvae were collected from a rescued E. fuscus adult. This is the first report of a soft tick species from Vermont and it is unknown how long C. kelleyi has been present in this state. Reports of C. kelleyi are on the rise across the northeastern United States but the implications for the health of humans, domestic animals, and bats in northern New England remain unclear. Bat management plans should consider the importance of bat exclusion in preventing tick encounters with members of the household and should include a tick monitoring component if bats are evicted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl Frank Sullivan
- Entomology Research Laboratory, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405-0105, USA
| | - James L Occi
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8536, USA
| | - Julia R Brennan
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8536, USA
| | - Richard G Robbins
- Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit, Department of Entomology, Smithsonian Institution, MSC, MRC 534, 4210 Silver Hill Road, Suitland, MD 20746-2863, USA
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910-7500, USA
| | - Margaret Skinner
- Entomology Research Laboratory, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405-0105, USA
| | - Alyssa B Bennett
- Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, Essex Junction, VT 05452, USA
| | - Bruce L Parker
- Entomology Research Laboratory, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405-0105, USA
| | - Dina M Fonseca
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8536, USA
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13
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Leisnham PT, LaDeau SL, Saunders MEM, Villena OC. Condition-Specific Competitive Effects of the Invasive Mosquito Aedes albopictus on the Resident Culex pipiens among Different Urban Container Habitats May Explain Their Coexistence in the Field. INSECTS 2021; 12:993. [PMID: 34821793 PMCID: PMC8621322 DOI: 10.3390/insects12110993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Condition-specific competition, when environmental conditions alter the outcome of competition, can foster the persistence of resident species after the invasion of a competitively superior invader. We test whether condition-specific competition can facilitate the areawide persistence of the resident and principal West Nile virus vector mosquito Culex pipiens with the competitively superior invasive Aedes albopictus in water from different urban container habitats. (2) Methods: We tested the effects of manipulated numbers of A. albopictus on C. pipiens' survival and development in water collected from common functional and discarded containers in Baltimore, MD, USA. The experiment was conducted with typical numbers of larvae found in field surveys of C. pipiens and A. albopictus and container water quality. (3) Results: We found increased densities of A. albopictus negatively affected the survivorship and development of C. pipiens in water from discarded containers but had little effect in water from functional containers. This finding was driven by water from trash cans, which allowed consistently higher C. pipiens' survival and development and had greater mean ammonia and nitrate concentrations that can promote microbial food than other container types. (4) Conclusions: These results suggest that the contents of different urban containers alter the effects of invasive A. albopictus competition on resident C. pipiens, that trash cans, in particular, facilitate the persistence of C. pipiens, and that there could be implications for West Nile virus risk as a result.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul T. Leisnham
- Department of Environmental Science & Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA; (M.E.M.S.); (O.C.V.)
| | - Shannon L. LaDeau
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, 2801 Sharon Turnpike, P.O. Box AB, Millbrook, NY 12545, USA;
| | - Megan E. M. Saunders
- Department of Environmental Science & Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA; (M.E.M.S.); (O.C.V.)
| | - Oswaldo C. Villena
- Department of Environmental Science & Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA; (M.E.M.S.); (O.C.V.)
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14
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Keyel AC, Raghavendra A, Ciota AT, Elison Timm O. West Nile virus is predicted to be more geographically widespread in New York State and Connecticut under future climate change. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:5430-5445. [PMID: 34392584 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The effects of climate change on infectious diseases are a topic of considerable interest and discussion. We studied West Nile virus (WNV) in New York (NY) and Connecticut (CT) using a Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model climate change scenario, which allows us to examine the effects of climate change and variability on WNV risk at county level. We chose WNV because it is well studied, has caused over 50,000 reported human cases, and over 2200 deaths in the United States. The ecological impacts have been substantial (e.g., millions of avian deaths), and economic impacts include livestock deaths, morbidity, and healthcare-related expenses. We trained two Random Forest models with observational climate data and human cases to predict future levels of WNV based on future weather conditions. The Regional Model used present-day data from NY and CT, whereas the Analog Model was fit for states most closely matching the predicted future conditions in the region. Separately, we predicted changes to mosquito-based WNV risk using a trait-based thermal biology approach (Mosquito Model). The WRF model produced control simulations (present day) and pseudo-global warming simulations (future). The Regional and Analog Models predicted an overall increase in human cases of WNV under future warming. However, the Analog Model did not predict as strong of an increase in the number of human cases as the Regional Model, and predicted a decrease in cases in some counties that currently experience high numbers of WNV cases. The Mosquito Model also predicted a decrease in risk in current high-risk areas, with an overall reduction in the population-weighted relative risk (but an increase in area-weighted risk). The Mosquito Model supports the Analog Model as making more realistic predictions than the Regional Model. All three models predicted a geographic increase in WNV cases across NY and CT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander C Keyel
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA
- Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, University at Albany, SUNY, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Ajay Raghavendra
- Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, University at Albany, SUNY, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Alexander T Ciota
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, SUNY, Rensselaer, New York, USA
| | - Oliver Elison Timm
- Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, University at Albany, SUNY, Albany, New York, USA
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15
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Occi JL, Hall M, Egizi AM, Robbins RG, Fonseca DM. First Record of Carios kelleyi (Acari: Ixodida: Argasidae) in New Jersey, United States and Implications for Public Health. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:939-942. [PMID: 32901802 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The soft tick Carios kelleyi (Cooley and Kohls), a parasite of bats known to occur in at least 29 of the 48 conterminous U.S. states, is here reported from New Jersey for the first time, based on larvae collected from big brown bats, Eptesicus fuscus. Although thought to be widespread in North America, the ecology of C. kelleyi is not well understood, despite reports of this species feeding on humans and its consequent potential as a disease vector. The association of C. kelleyi with bat species that regularly roost in human-made structures, such as attics and barns, and recent isolations from this tick of pathogens capable of infecting humans, companion animals, and livestock underscore the need for further studies of these bat ectoparasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- James L Occi
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
| | - MacKenzie Hall
- NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, Endangered and Nongame Species Program, Lebanon, NJ
| | - Andrea M Egizi
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
- Tick-Borne Disease Program, Monmouth County Mosquito Control Division, Tinton Falls, NJ
| | - Richard G Robbins
- Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit, Department of Entomology, Smithsonian Institution, Suitland, MD
- Department of Entomology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD
| | - Dina M Fonseca
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
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16
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Ferreira-de-Freitas L, Thrun NB, Tucker BJ, Melidosian L, Bartholomay LC. An Evaluation of Characters for the Separation of Two Culex Species (Diptera: Culicidae) Based on Material From the Upper Midwest. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2020; 20:5956134. [PMID: 33147340 PMCID: PMC7641446 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/ieaa119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Culex pipiens complex play a key role in the transmission and therefore epidemiology of a number of human and animal pathogens globally. These mosquitoes, and sympatric species of the genus Culex Linnaeus that are not within the Cx. pipiens complex, are often considered 'impossible' to distinguish by morphology in the adult female stage. In the United States, this is particularly true for Culex pipiens s.l. and Culex restuans Theobald, both of which are competent vectors of West Nile virus, but likely play different roles in the transmission cycle. Therefore, we undertook an in-depth morphological evaluation of matched larval exuviae and adult specimens that revealed five useful morphological characters that are informative to distinguish Cx. pipiens s.l. from Cx. restuans in the adult stage. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of the literature on these species of interest, and four additional, morphologically similar, Culex species, and a proposed key to adult female specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicholas B Thrun
- Pathobiological Sciences Department, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Avenida Coronel Francisco H. dos Santos, Jardim das Américas, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Bradley J Tucker
- Pathobiological Sciences Department, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Lauren Melidosian
- Pathobiological Sciences Department, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Lyric C Bartholomay
- Pathobiological Sciences Department, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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17
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Egizi A, Bulaga-Seraphin L, Alt E, Bajwa WI, Bernick J, Bickerton M, Campbell SR, Connally N, Doi K, Falco RC, Gaines DN, Greay TL, Harper VL, Heath ACG, Jiang J, Klein TA, Maestas L, Mather TN, Occi JL, Oskam CL, Pendleton J, Teator M, Thompson AT, Tufts DM, Umemiya-Shirafuji R, VanAcker MC, Yabsley MJ, Fonseca DM. First glimpse into the origin and spread of the Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, in the United States. Zoonoses Public Health 2020; 67:637-650. [PMID: 32638553 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Established populations of Asian longhorned ticks (ALT), Haemaphysalis longicornis, were first identified in the United States (US) in 2017 by sequencing the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) 'barcoding' locus followed by morphological confirmation. Subsequent investigations detected ALT infestations in 12, mostly eastern, US states. To gain information on the origin and spread of US ALT, we (1) sequenced cox1 from ALT populations across 9 US states and (2) obtained cox1 sequences from potential source populations [China, Japan and Republic of Korea (ROK) as well as Australia, New Zealand and the Kingdom of Tonga (KOT)] both by sequencing and by downloading publicly available sequences in NCBI GenBank. Additionally, we conducted epidemiological investigations of properties near its initial detection locale in Hunterdon County, NJ, as well as a broader risk analysis for importation of ectoparasites into the area. In eastern Asian populations (China/Japan/ROK), we detected 35 cox1 haplotypes that neatly clustered into two clades with known bisexual versus parthenogenetic phenotypes. In Australia/New Zealand/KOT, we detected 10 cox1 haplotypes all falling within the parthenogenetic cluster. In the United States, we detected three differentially distributed cox1 haplotypes from the parthenogenetic cluster, supporting phenotypic evidence that US ALT are parthenogenetic. While none of the source populations examined had all three US cox1 haplotypes, a phylogeographic network analysis supports a northeast Asian source for the US populations. Within the United States, epidemiological investigations indicate ALT can be moved long distances by human transport of animals, such as horses and dogs, with smaller scale movements on wildlife. These results have relevant implications for efforts aimed at minimizing the spread of ALT in the United States and preventing additional exotic tick introductions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Egizi
- Monmouth County Mosquito Control Division, Tinton Falls, NJ, USA.,Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | | | - Erika Alt
- West Virginia Department of Agriculture, Animal Health Division, Charleston, WV, USA
| | - Waheed I Bajwa
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Office of Vector Surveillance and Control, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joshua Bernick
- Virginia Department of Health, Division of Surveillance and Investigation, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Matthew Bickerton
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.,Bergen County Department of Health Services, Paramus, NJ, USA.,Rutgers Center for Vector Biology, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Scott R Campbell
- Suffolk County Department of Health Services, Arthropod-Borne Disease Laboratory, Yaphank, NY, USA
| | - Neeta Connally
- Department of Biological & Environmental Sciences, Western Connecticut State University, Danbury, CT, USA
| | - Kandai Doi
- Laboratory of Wildlife Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Japan
| | - Richard C Falco
- New York State Department of Health, Louis Calder Center, Fordham University, Armonk, NY, USA
| | - David N Gaines
- Virginia Department of Health, Division of Surveillance and Investigation, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Telleasha L Greay
- Vector and Waterborne Pathogens Research Group, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
| | | | - Allen C G Heath
- AgResearch Ltd, Hopkirk Research Institute, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Ju Jiang
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Terry A Klein
- Force Health Protection & Preventive Medicine, MEDDAC-Korea/65th Medical Brigade, APO AP 96271-5281, USA
| | | | - Thomas N Mather
- TickEncounter Resource Center, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - James L Occi
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Charlotte L Oskam
- Vector and Waterborne Pathogens Research Group, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
| | | | | | - Alec T Thompson
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Danielle M Tufts
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rika Umemiya-Shirafuji
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Meredith C VanAcker
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael J Yabsley
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.,Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Dina M Fonseca
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
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18
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Tokarz RE, Smith RC. Crossover Dynamics of Culex (Diptera: Culicidae) Vector Populations Determine WNV Transmission Intensity. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 57:289-296. [PMID: 31310655 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjz122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
First introduced into the United States in 1999, West Nile virus (WNV) has become endemic and has established itself as the predominant mosquito-borne arbovirus in North America. Transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Culex, regional landscapes influence local vector species abundance, creating different mosquito ecologies that drive local transmission dynamics. In central Iowa, two mosquito species, Culex restuans Theobald and Culex pipiens Linnaeus, serve as the predominant mosquito vectors. Importantly, these mosquito populations are influenced by seasonal patterns in their abundance, with Cx. restuans preferring cool, early spring temperatures, while Cx. pipiens prefer the warmer, mid- to late-summer months. The point of the season at which Cx. pipiens becomes the dominant species is generally referred to as a 'crossover' period. To better understand the influence of crossover dynamics on WNV transmission, we examined environmental and mosquito abundance data, as well as mosquito infection rates and human disease cases from 2016 to 2018. We demonstrate that temperature influences the timing and duration of the crossover period, influencing mosquito abundance and human disease transmission. Together, these results suggest that Culex species crossover is an important variable of WNV transmission dynamics, which may provide an early warning indicators of increased WNV transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan E Tokarz
- Department of Entomology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
| | - Ryan C Smith
- Department of Entomology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
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19
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Rochlin I, Faraji A, Healy K, Andreadis TG. West Nile Virus Mosquito Vectors in North America. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2019; 56:1475-1490. [PMID: 31549725 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjz146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
In North America, the geographic distribution, ecology, and vectorial capacity of a diverse assemblage of mosquito species belonging to the genus Culex determine patterns of West Nile virus transmission and disease risk. East of the Mississippi River, mostly ornithophagic Culex pipiens L. complex mosquitoes drive intense enzootic transmission with relatively small numbers of human cases. Westward, the presence of highly competent Culex tarsalis (Coquillett) under arid climate and hot summers defines the regions with the highest human risk. West Nile virus human risk distribution is not uniform geographically or temporally within all regions. Notable geographic 'hotspots' persist with occasional severe outbreaks. Despite two decades of comprehensive research, several questions remain unresolved, such as the role of non-Culex bridge vectors, which are not involved in the enzootic cycle, but may be involved in virus transmission to humans. The absence of bridge vectors also may help to explain the frequent lack of West Nile virus 'spillover' into human populations despite very intense enzootic amplification in the eastern United States. This article examines vectorial capacity and the eco-epidemiology of West Nile virus mosquito vectors in four geographic regions of North America and presents some of the unresolved questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilia Rochlin
- Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
| | - Ary Faraji
- Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Kristen Healy
- Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
| | - Theodore G Andreadis
- Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT
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20
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Long-term surveillance defines spatial and temporal patterns implicating Culex tarsalis as the primary vector of West Nile virus. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6637. [PMID: 31036953 PMCID: PMC6488619 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43246-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) has become the most epidemiologically important mosquito-borne disease in the United States, causing ~50,000 cases since its introduction in 1999. Transmitted primarily by Culex species, WNV transmission requires the complex interplay between bird reservoirs and mosquito vectors, with human cases the result of epizootic spillover. To better understand the intrinsic factors that drive these interactions, we have compiled infection data from sentinel chickens, mosquito vectors, and human cases in Iowa over a 15 year period (2002-2016) to better understand the spatial and temporal components that drive WNV transmission. Supplementing these findings with mosquito abundance, distribution, and host preferences data, we provide strong support that Culex tarsalis is the most important vector of human WNV infections in the region. Together, our analysis provides new insights into WNV infection patterns in multiple hosts and highlights the importance of long-term surveillance to understand the dynamics of mosquito-borne-disease transmission.
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21
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McMillan JR, Blakney RA, Mead DG, Koval WT, Coker SM, Waller LA, Kitron U, Vazquez‐Prokopec GM. Linking the vectorial capacity of multiple vectors to observed patterns of West Nile virus transmission. J Appl Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph R. McMillan
- Program in Population Biology, Ecology and EvolutionEmory University Atlanta Georgia
| | | | - Daniel G. Mead
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease StudyUniversity of Georgia Athens Georgia
| | - William T. Koval
- Department of Environmental SciencesEmory University Atlanta Georgia
| | - Sarah M. Coker
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease StudyUniversity of Georgia Athens Georgia
| | - Lance A. Waller
- Program in Population Biology, Ecology and EvolutionEmory University Atlanta Georgia
- Department of Biostatistics and BioinformaticsRollins School of Public HealthEmory University Atlanta Georgia
| | - Uriel Kitron
- Program in Population Biology, Ecology and EvolutionEmory University Atlanta Georgia
- Department of Environmental SciencesEmory University Atlanta Georgia
| | - Gonzalo M. Vazquez‐Prokopec
- Program in Population Biology, Ecology and EvolutionEmory University Atlanta Georgia
- Department of Environmental SciencesEmory University Atlanta Georgia
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22
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Ahlers LRH, Goodman AG. The Immune Responses of the Animal Hosts of West Nile Virus: A Comparison of Insects, Birds, and Mammals. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:96. [PMID: 29666784 PMCID: PMC5891621 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Vector-borne diseases, including arboviruses, pose a serious threat to public health worldwide. Arboviruses of the flavivirus genus, such as Zika virus (ZIKV), dengue virus, yellow fever virus (YFV), and West Nile virus (WNV), are transmitted to humans from insect vectors and can cause serious disease. In 2017, over 2,000 reported cases of WNV virus infection occurred in the United States, with two-thirds of cases classified as neuroinvasive. WNV transmission cycles through two different animal populations: birds and mosquitoes. Mammals, particularly humans and horses, can become infected through mosquito bites and represent dead-end hosts of WNV infection. Because WNV can infect diverse species, research on this arbovirus has investigated the host response in mosquitoes, birds, humans, and horses. With the growing geographical range of the WNV mosquito vector and increased human exposure, improved surveillance and treatment of the infection will enhance public health in areas where WNV is endemic. In this review, we survey the bionomics of mosquito species involved in Nearctic WNV transmission. Subsequently, we describe the known immune response pathways that counter WNV infection in insects, birds, and mammals, as well as the mechanisms known to curb viral infection. Moreover, we discuss the bacterium Wolbachia and its involvement in reducing flavivirus titer in insects. Finally, we highlight the similarities of the known immune pathways and identify potential targets for future studies aimed at improving antiviral therapeutic and vaccination design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura R H Ahlers
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Alan G Goodman
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States.,Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
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23
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Chaulk AC, Carson PK, Whitney HG, Fonseca DM, Chapman TW. The Arrival of the Northern House Mosquito Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae) on Newfoundland's Avalon Peninsula. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2016; 53:1364-1369. [PMID: 27592550 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjw105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2016] [Accepted: 05/27/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Culex pipiens L., the northern house mosquito, is the primary vector of West Nile virus to humans along the east coast of North America and thus the focus of much study. This species is an urban container-breeding mosquito whose close contact with humans and flexibility in host choice has led to its classification as a "bridge vector"; that is, it is thought to move zoonotic diseases to humans from vertebrate reservoirs. While this invasive species is now well documented in its established range, which expanded in 2001 to include Canada, the existence of populations of this species along the fringes of its range are less well known. Here we report, using morphological and genetic techniques, the existence of two locations where Cx. pipiens exists in Newfoundland in both expected and unexpected sites based on projected habitat suitability on the island.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew C Chaulk
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador A1B 3X9 (; ; )
| | - P Kate Carson
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador A1B 3X9 (; ; )
| | - Hugh G Whitney
- Animal Health Division, Newfoundland and Labrador Forestry and Agrifoods Agency, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada (retired) , and
| | - Dina M Fonseca
- Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
| | - Thomas W Chapman
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador A1B 3X9 (; ; )
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24
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Valentin RE, Maslo B, Lockwood JL, Pote J, Fonseca DM. Real-time PCR assay to detect brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), in environmental DNA. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2016; 72:1854-1861. [PMID: 26732613 DOI: 10.1002/ps.4217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2015] [Revised: 12/15/2015] [Accepted: 12/20/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early detection before establishment and identification of key predators are time-honored strategies towards effective eradication or control of invasive species. The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys, is a recent exotic pest of several important crops in North America and Europe. Resulting widespread applications of insecticides have countered years of careful integrated pest management and are leading to the resurgence of other agricultural pests. Environmental DNA (eDNA) has been used effectively to detect aquatic invasives. RESULTS We developed a real-time PCR (qPCR) assay for BMSB in a conserved region of the ribosomal DNA interspacer 1 (ITS1). We validated this assay on worldwide populations of BMSB and tested its specificity and sensitivity against other US Pentatomidae species and on guano of big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus, which we confirmed is a BMSB predator in New Jersey. We also detected BMSB DNA after rapid (and inexpensive) HotSHOT DNA extractions of soiled paper from cages briefly holding BMSB, as well as from discarded exuviae. CONCLUSION Given the high sensitivity of our assay to BMSB environmental DNA (eDNA) in terrestrial samples, this tool should become a cost-effective approach for using eDNA to detect terrestrial invasive species and their key predators. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael E Valentin
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources and the Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolution, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Brooke Maslo
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources and the Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolution, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- Rutgers Cooperative Extension, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Julie L Lockwood
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources and the Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolution, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - John Pote
- Department of Entomology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Dina M Fonseca
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources and the Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolution, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- Rutgers Cooperative Extension, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- Department of Entomology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
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Johnson BJ, Fonseca DM. Insecticide resistance alleles in wetland and residential populations of the West Nile virus vector Culex pipiens in New Jersey. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2016; 72:481-488. [PMID: 25809655 DOI: 10.1002/ps.4011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2014] [Revised: 02/19/2015] [Accepted: 03/23/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In spite of the extensive use of insecticides to control Culex pipiens in the aftermath of West Nile virus, knowledge of the spatial distribution and frequency of insecticide resistance in this species is poorly understood in the United States. This paper reports on the occurrence of upregulated esterases that detoxify organophosphates (OPs) and mutations conferring resistance to pyrethroid insecticides in natural and developed areas of New Jersey. RESULTS We report the first observations of the OP resistance alleles Ester(B1) and Ester(2) and the classical knockdown resistance (kdr) mutation L1014F in New Jersey Cx. pipiens. Upregulated Ester(B1) peaked at 23% (mean ± SE = 12 ± 2.3%) and Ester(2) at 14% (8 ± 1.8%), and both were widely distributed. L1014F, which confers strong resistance to pyrethroids when homozygous, was also widely distributed and ranged in frequency from 2 to 19% (5.1% heterozygous individuals and 1.4% homozygous). CONCLUSION We have demonstrated that OP resistance is common and broadly distributed in New Jersey Cx. pipiens, and that homozygous individuals resistant to pyrethroids are present. Further, we have detected double mutants at Ester and kdr, a condition that may annul the purging effects of insecticide rotations. Our results therefore indicate the need for continued monitoring of insecticide resistance in order to achieve effective mosquito control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Johnson
- Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolution, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Dina M Fonseca
- Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolution, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
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