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Mora-Rubio C, Ferraguti M, Magallanes S, Bravo-Barriga D, Hernandez-Caballero I, Marzal A, de Lope F. Unravelling the mosquito-haemosporidian parasite-bird host network in the southwestern Iberian Peninsula: insights into malaria infections, mosquito community and feeding preferences. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:395. [PMID: 37915080 PMCID: PMC10619300 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05964-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BAKGROUND Vector-borne diseases affecting humans, wildlife and livestock have significantly increased their incidence and distribution in the last decades. Because the interaction among vectors-parasite-vertebrate hosts plays a key role driving vector-borne disease transmission, the analyses of the diversity and structure of vector-parasite networks and host-feeding preference may help to assess disease risk. Also, the study of seasonal variations in the structure and composition of vector and parasite communities may elucidate the current patterns of parasite persistence and spread as well as facilitate prediction of how climate variations may impact vector-borne disease transmission. Avian malaria and related haemosporidian parasites constitute an exceptional model to understand the ecology and evolution of vector-borne diseases. However, the characterization of vector-haemosporidian parasite-bird host assemblages is largely unknown in many regions. METHODS Here, we analyzed 5859 female mosquitoes captured from May to November in five localities from southwestern Spain to explore the composition and seasonal variation of the vector-parasite-vertebrate host network. RESULTS We showed a gradual increase in mosquito abundance, peaking in July. A total of 16 different haemosporidian lineages were found infecting 13 mosquito species. Of these assemblages, more than 70% of these vector-parasite associations have not been described in previous studies. Moreover, three Haemoproteus lineages were reported for the first time in this study. The prevalence of avian malaria infections in mosquitoes varied significantly across the months, reaching a maximum in November. Mosquito blood-feeding preference was higher for mammals (62.5%), whereas 37.5% of vectors fed on birds, suggesting opportunistic feeding behavior. CONCLUSION These outcomes improve our understanding of disease transmission risk and help tovector control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Mora-Rubio
- Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Ciencias, Avenida de Elvas S/N, 06006, Badajoz, Spain.
| | - Martina Ferraguti
- Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Ciencias, Avenida de Elvas S/N, 06006, Badajoz, Spain.
- Departamento de Biología de la Conservación y Cambio Global, Estación Biológica de Doñana, EBD-CSIC, Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, 41092, Seville, Spain.
- Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Sergio Magallanes
- Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Ciencias, Avenida de Elvas S/N, 06006, Badajoz, Spain
- Departamento de Biología de la Conservación y Cambio Global, Estación Biológica de Doñana, EBD-CSIC, Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, 41092, Seville, Spain
| | - Daniel Bravo-Barriga
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Parasitología, Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Veterinaria, Avda. Universidad S/N, 10003, Cáceres, Spain
| | - Irene Hernandez-Caballero
- Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Ciencias, Avenida de Elvas S/N, 06006, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Alfonso Marzal
- Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Ciencias, Avenida de Elvas S/N, 06006, Badajoz, Spain
- Grupo de Investigaciones en Fauna Silvestre, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Jr. Maynas 1777, 22021, Tarapoto, Perú
| | - Florentino de Lope
- Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Ciencias, Avenida de Elvas S/N, 06006, Badajoz, Spain
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Flies EJ, Lim JNW, Douglas I. Editorial: Urban ecology and human health. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.1032022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Rhodes CG, Scavo NA, Finney M, Fimbres-Macias JP, Lively MT, Strauss BH, Hamer GL. Meta-Analysis of the Relative Abundance of Nuisance and Vector Mosquitoes in Urban and Blue-Green Spaces. INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13030271. [PMID: 35323569 PMCID: PMC8951424 DOI: 10.3390/insects13030271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Blue-green spaces (BGSs), urban areas characterized by the presence of vegetation and or water, and infrastructure form a potential solution for public health threats from increasing urbanization. We conducted a meta-analysis to test the hypothesis that blue-green spaces increase the abundance of nuisance and vector mosquito species compared to non-greened urban areas. After screening 7306 studies published since 1992, we identified 18 studies containing sufficient data from both traditional urban areas and BGSs. We found no significant difference in mean abundance of all mosquito taxa in three genera (Aedes, Culex, Anopheles) when comparing blue-green spaces and non-greened urban spaces. Similarly, a separate analysis of each individual genera found no significant differences. An analysis of the taxa by larval habitat guilds found no differences for container-breeding mosquitoes. Flood-water species tended to be more abundant in blue-green spaces, but the differences were not significant. The individual taxa of Aedes albopictus and the Culex pipiens complex showed no differences between blue-green and urban spaces, while the abundance of Aedes aegypti was significantly higher in traditional urban spaces. Due to the variety existing between and among the several types of blue-green spaces, further studies comparing each unique type of blue-green space or infrastructure will be necessary to draw conclusions regarding the influence of each structure on for urban mosquito communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte G. Rhodes
- Entomology Department, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (M.F.); (B.H.S.)
- Correspondence: (C.G.R.); (N.A.S.); (G.L.H.)
| | - Nicole A. Scavo
- Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Program, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Correspondence: (C.G.R.); (N.A.S.); (G.L.H.)
| | - Micaela Finney
- Entomology Department, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (M.F.); (B.H.S.)
| | - Juan P. Fimbres-Macias
- Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA;
| | - Macey T. Lively
- Epidemiology & Biostatistics Department, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA;
| | - Brandon H. Strauss
- Entomology Department, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (M.F.); (B.H.S.)
| | - Gabriel L. Hamer
- Entomology Department, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (M.F.); (B.H.S.)
- Correspondence: (C.G.R.); (N.A.S.); (G.L.H.)
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Scavo NA, Barrera R, Reyes-Torres LJ, Yee DA. Lower socioeconomic status neighborhoods in Puerto Rico have more diverse mosquito communities and higher Aedes aegypti abundance. JOURNAL OF URBAN ECOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/jue/juab009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Mosquito community dynamics in urban areas are influenced by an array of both social and ecological factors. Human socioeconomic factors (SEF) can be related to mosquito abundance and diversity as urban mosquito development sites are modified by varying human activity, e.g., level of abandoned structures or amount of accumulated trash. The goal of this study was to investigate the relationships among mosquito diversity, populations of Aedes aegypti, and SEF in a tropical urban setting. Mosquitoes were collected using BG Sentinel 2 traps and CDC light traps during three periods between late 2018 and early 2019 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and were identified to species. SEFs (i.e. median household income, population density, college-level educational attainment, unemployment, health insurance coverage, percentage of households below the poverty line, amount of trash and level of abandoned homes) were measured using foot surveys and U.S. Census data. We found 19 species with the two most abundant species being Culex quinquefasciatus (n = 10 641, 87.6%) and Ae. aegypti (n = 1558, 12.8%). We found a positive association between Ae. aegypti abundance and mosquito diversity, which were both negatively related to SES and ecological factors. Specifically, lower socioeconomic status neighborhoods had both more Ae. aegypti and more diverse communities, due to more favorable development habitat, indicating that control efforts should be focused in these areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole A Scavo
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Roberto Barrera
- Dengue Branch, Division of Vector-Borne and Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Limarie J Reyes-Torres
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Donald A Yee
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
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Johnson BJ, Robbins A, Gyawali N, Ong O, Loader J, Murphy AK, Hanger J, Devine GJ. The environmental and ecological determinants of elevated Ross River Virus exposure in koalas residing in urban coastal landscapes. Sci Rep 2021; 11:4419. [PMID: 33627779 PMCID: PMC7904799 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83919-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Koala populations in many areas of Australia have declined sharply in response to habitat loss, disease and the effects of climate change. Koalas may face further morbidity from endemic mosquito-borne viruses, but the impact of such viruses is currently unknown. Few seroprevalence studies in the wild exist and little is known of the determinants of exposure. Here, we exploited a large, spatially and temporally explicit koala survey to define the intensity of Ross River Virus (RRV) exposure in koalas residing in urban coastal environments in southeast Queensland, Australia. We demonstrate that RRV exposure in koalas is much higher (> 80%) than reported in other sero-surveys and that exposure is uniform across the urban coastal landscape. Uniformity in exposure is related to the presence of the major RRV mosquito vector, Culex annulirostris, and similarities in animal movement, tree use, and age-dependent increases in exposure risk. Elevated exposure ultimately appears to result from the confinement of remaining coastal koala habitat to the edges of permanent wetlands unsuitable for urban development and which produce large numbers of competent mosquito vectors. The results further illustrate that koalas and other RRV-susceptible vertebrates may serve as useful sentinels of human urban exposure in endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J. Johnson
- grid.1049.c0000 0001 2294 1395Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006 Australia
| | - Amy Robbins
- Endeavour Veterinary Ecology Pty Ltd, 1695 Pumicestone Rd, Toorbul, QLD 4510 Australia
| | - Narayan Gyawali
- grid.1049.c0000 0001 2294 1395Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006 Australia
| | - Oselyne Ong
- grid.1049.c0000 0001 2294 1395Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006 Australia
| | - Joanne Loader
- Endeavour Veterinary Ecology Pty Ltd, 1695 Pumicestone Rd, Toorbul, QLD 4510 Australia
| | - Amanda K. Murphy
- grid.1049.c0000 0001 2294 1395Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006 Australia ,grid.1024.70000000089150953School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059 Australia
| | - Jon Hanger
- Endeavour Veterinary Ecology Pty Ltd, 1695 Pumicestone Rd, Toorbul, QLD 4510 Australia
| | - Gregor J. Devine
- grid.1049.c0000 0001 2294 1395Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006 Australia
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Hopken MW, Reyes-Torres LJ, Scavo N, Piaggio AJ, Abdo Z, Taylor D, Pierce J, Yee DA. Temporal and Spatial Blood Feeding Patterns of Urban Mosquitoes in the San Juan Metropolitan Area, Puerto Rico. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12020129. [PMID: 33540671 PMCID: PMC7913113 DOI: 10.3390/insects12020129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Understanding the biodiversity of urban ecosystems is critical for management of invasive and pest species, conserving native species, and disease control. Mosquitoes (Culicidae) are ubiquitous and abundant in urban ecosystems, and rely on blood meals taken from vertebrates. We used DNA from freshly blood-fed mosquitoes to characterize the diversity of vertebrate host species in the San Juan Metropolitan Area, Puerto Rico. We collected two mosquito species that fed on a variety of vertebrates. Culex quinquefasciatus fed on 17 avian taxa (81.2% of blood meals), seven mammalian taxa (17.9%), and one reptilian taxon (0.85%). Aedes aegypti blood meals were from a less diverse group, with two avian taxa (11.1%) and three mammalian taxa (88.9%) identified. Domestic chickens dominated the blood meals of Cx. quinquefasciatus, both temporally and spatially, and no statistically significant shift from birds to mammals was detected. The species we detected from the mosquito blood meals provided a snapshot of the vertebrate community in the San Juan Metropolitan Area, most of which were domestic species. However, we also identified a variety of native and nonnative wild species. These results add knowledge about potential ecological factors that impact vector-borne disease management in urban habitats. Abstract Urban ecosystems are a patchwork of habitats that host a broad diversity of animal species. Insects comprise a large portion of urban biodiversity which includes many pest species, including those that transmit pathogens. Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) inhabit urban environments and rely on sympatric vertebrate species to complete their life cycles, and in this process transmit pathogens to animals and humans. Given that mosquitoes feed upon vertebrates, they can also act as efficient samplers that facilitate detection of vertebrate species that utilize urban ecosystems. In this study, we analyzed DNA extracted from mosquito blood meals collected temporally in multiple neighborhoods of the San Juan Metropolitan Area, Puerto Rico to evaluate the presence of vertebrate fauna. DNA was collected from 604 individual mosquitoes that represented two common urban species, Culex quinquefasciatus (n = 586) and Aedes aegypti (n = 18). Culex quinquefasciatus fed on 17 avian taxa (81.2% of blood meals), seven mammalian taxa (17.9%), and one reptilian taxon (0.85%). Domestic chickens dominated these blood meals both temporally and spatially, and no statistically significant shift from birds to mammals was detected. Aedes aegypti blood meals were from a less diverse group, with two avian taxa (11.1%) and three mammalian taxa (88.9%) identified. The blood meals we identified provided a snapshot of the vertebrate community in the San Juan Metropolitan Area and have potential implications for vector-borne pathogen transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew W. Hopken
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (Z.A.); (J.P.)
- United States Department of Agriculture National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA; (A.J.P.); (D.T.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Limarie J. Reyes-Torres
- School of Biological, Environmental, & Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA; (L.J.R.-T.); (N.S.); (D.A.Y.)
| | - Nicole Scavo
- School of Biological, Environmental, & Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA; (L.J.R.-T.); (N.S.); (D.A.Y.)
| | - Antoinette J. Piaggio
- United States Department of Agriculture National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA; (A.J.P.); (D.T.)
| | - Zaid Abdo
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (Z.A.); (J.P.)
| | - Daniel Taylor
- United States Department of Agriculture National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA; (A.J.P.); (D.T.)
| | - James Pierce
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (Z.A.); (J.P.)
| | - Donald A. Yee
- School of Biological, Environmental, & Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA; (L.J.R.-T.); (N.S.); (D.A.Y.)
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Flies EJ, Jones P, Buettel JC, Brook BW. Compromised Ecosystem Services From Urban Aerial Microbiomes: A Review of Impacts on Human Immune Function. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.568902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
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Sarira TV, Clarke K, Weinstein P, Koh LP, Lewis M. Rapid identification of shallow inundation for mosquito disease mitigation using drone-derived multispectral imagery. GEOSPATIAL HEALTH 2020; 15. [PMID: 32575964 DOI: 10.4081/gh.2020.851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mosquito breeding habitat identification often relies on slow, labour-intensive and expensive ground surveys. With advances in remote sensing and autonomous flight technologies, we endeavoured to accelerate this detection by assessing the effectiveness of a drone multispectral imaging system to determine areas of shallow inundation in an intertidal saltmarsh in South Australia. Through laboratory experiments, we characterised Near-Infrared (NIR) reflectance responses to water depth and vegetation cover, and established a reflectance threshold for mapping water sufficiently deep for potential mosquito breeding. We then applied this threshold to field-acquired drone imagery and used simultaneous in-situ observations to assess its mapping accuracy. A NIR reflectance threshold of 0.2 combined with a vegetation mask derived from Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) resulted in a mapping accuracy of 80.3% with a Cohen's Kappa of 0.5, with confusion between vegetation and shallow water depths (< 10 cm) appearing to be major causes of error. This high degree of mapping accuracy was achieved with affordable drone equipment, and commercially available sensors and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software, demonstrating the efficiency of such an approach to identify shallow inundation likely to be suitable for mosquito breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kenneth Clarke
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide.
| | - Philip Weinstein
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide.
| | - Lian Pin Koh
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia; Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore.
| | - Megan Lewis
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide.
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Koolhof IS, Gibney KB, Bettiol S, Charleston M, Wiethoelter A, Arnold AL, Campbell PT, Neville PJ, Aung P, Shiga T, Carver S, Firestone SM. The forecasting of dynamical Ross River virus outbreaks: Victoria, Australia. Epidemics 2019; 30:100377. [PMID: 31735585 DOI: 10.1016/j.epidem.2019.100377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Ross River virus (RRV) is Australia's most epidemiologically important mosquito-borne disease. During RRV epidemics in the State of Victoria (such as 2010/11 and 2016/17) notifications can account for up to 30% of national RRV notifications. However, little is known about factors which can forecast RRV transmission in Victoria. We aimed to understand factors associated with RRV transmission in epidemiologically important regions of Victoria and establish an early warning forecast system. We developed negative binomial regression models to forecast human RRV notifications across 11 Local Government Areas (LGAs) using climatic, environmental, and oceanographic variables. Data were collected from July 2008 to June 2018. Data from July 2008 to June 2012 were used as a training data set, while July 2012 to June 2018 were used as a testing data set. Evapotranspiration and precipitation were found to be common factors for forecasting RRV notifications across sites. Several site-specific factors were also important in forecasting RRV notifications which varied between LGA. From the 11 LGAs examined, nine experienced an outbreak in 2011/12 of which the models for these sites were a good fit. All 11 LGAs experienced an outbreak in 2016/17, however only six LGAs could predict the outbreak using the same model. We document similarities and differences in factors useful for forecasting RRV notifications across Victoria and demonstrate that readily available and inexpensive climate and environmental data can be used to predict epidemic periods in some areas. Furthermore, we highlight in certain regions the complexity of RRV transmission where additional epidemiological information is needed to accurately predict RRV activity. Our findings have been applied to produce a Ross River virus Outbreak Surveillance System (ROSS) to aid in public health decision making in Victoria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iain S Koolhof
- College of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; College of Sciences and Engineering, School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
| | - Katherine B Gibney
- Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Surveillance, Health Protection Branch, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Infectious Diseases, Austin Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Silvana Bettiol
- College of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Michael Charleston
- College of Sciences and Engineering, School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Anke Wiethoelter
- Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Anna-Lena Arnold
- Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Surveillance, Health Protection Branch, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Patricia T Campbell
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Peter J Neville
- Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Surveillance, Health Protection Branch, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Health, Western Australia, Public and Aboriginal Health, Environmental Health Directorate, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Phyo Aung
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tsubasa Shiga
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Scott Carver
- College of Sciences and Engineering, School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Simon M Firestone
- Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Dearsley EJ, O'Handley RM, Caraguel C. Is canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) endemic to South Australia? Aust Vet J 2019; 97:191-196. [PMID: 31136690 DOI: 10.1111/avj.12814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Revised: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) was reported as endemic to South Australia over 25 years ago, but the current status of canine heartworm infection in South Australia is unknown. METHODS We surveyed South Australian veterinary practices to collect evidence about canine heartworm cases, prevention, screening and treatment practices. RESULTS In total, 141 veterinary practices operating in South Australia (92.3% response rate) completed a 12-question telephone survey. Five confirmed cases of heartworm and one suspected false-positive case were reported from separate practices over the 2016-17 financial year. All confirmed cases had recently relocated to South Australia from interstate. Incidence of canine heartworm was estimated at 0.00% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.00-0.0006) and prevalence at 0.002% (95%CI: 0.00-0.004) using conservative estimates of the South Australian dog population. Attitudes and protocols regarding heartworm differed significantly between metropolitan and rural veterinary practices. All metropolitan practices recommend systematic medicated prevention against heartworm, while some rural practices (20.7%) recommend prevention only when travelling interstate (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Although there is a minor source of heartworm from introduction of infected dogs into South Australia, there is no evidence that the infection is transmitted to other dogs within the state. Therefore, it is unlikely that heartworm is currently endemic to South Australia as reported in the past. This new evidence provides a strong case to refine current prevention practices to reflect the current negligible risk of heartworm infection within South Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- E J Dearsley
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, Roseworthy, South Australia, 5371, Australia
| | - R M O'Handley
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, Roseworthy, South Australia, 5371, Australia
| | - Cgb Caraguel
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, Roseworthy, South Australia, 5371, Australia
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Stephenson EB, Murphy AK, Jansen CC, Peel AJ, McCallum H. Interpreting mosquito feeding patterns in Australia through an ecological lens: an analysis of blood meal studies. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:156. [PMID: 30944025 PMCID: PMC6448275 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3405-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mosquito-borne pathogens contribute significantly to the global burden of disease, infecting millions of people each year. Mosquito feeding is critical to the transmission dynamics of pathogens, and thus it is important to understanding and interpreting mosquito feeding patterns. In this paper we explore mosquito feeding patterns and their implications for disease ecology through a meta-analysis of published blood meal results collected across Australia from more than 12,000 blood meals from 22 species. To assess mosquito-vertebrate associations and identify mosquitoes on a spectrum of generalist or specialist feeders, we analysed blood meal data in two ways; first using a novel odds ratio analysis, and secondly by calculating Shannon's diversity scores. RESULTS We find that each mosquito species had a unique feeding association with different vertebrates, suggesting species-specific feeding patterns. Broadly, mosquito species could be grouped broadly into those that were primarily ornithophilic and those that fed more often on livestock. Aggregated feeding patterns observed across Australia were not explained by intrinsic variables such as mosquito genetics or larval habitats. We discuss the implications for disease transmission by vector mosquito species classified as generalist-feeders (such as Aedes vigilax and Culex annulirostris), or specialists (such as Aedes aegypti) in light of potential influences on mosquito host choice. CONCLUSIONS Overall, we find that whilst existing blood meal studies in Australia are useful for investigating mosquito feeding patterns, standardisation of blood meal study methodologies and analyses, including the incorporation of vertebrate surveys, would improve predictions of the impact of vector-host interactions on disease ecology. Our analysis can also be used as a framework to explore mosquito-vertebrate associations, in which host availability data is unavailable, in other global systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloise B. Stephenson
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111 Australia
| | | | - Cassie C. Jansen
- Communicable Diseases Branch, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Herston, QLD 4006 Australia
| | - Alison J. Peel
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111 Australia
| | - Hamish McCallum
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111 Australia
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Abstract
Mycobacterium ulcerans is recognised as the third most common mycobacterial infection worldwide. It causes necrotising infections of skin and soft tissue and is classified as a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, despite extensive research, the environmental reservoir of the organism and mode of transmission of the infection to humans remain unknown. This limits the ability to design and implement public health interventions to effectively and consistently prevent the spread and reduce the incidence of this disease. In recent years, the epidemiology of the disease has changed. In most endemic regions of the world, the number of cases reported to the WHO are reducing, with a 64% reduction in cases reported worldwide in the last 9 years. Conversely, in a smaller number of countries including Australia and Nigeria, reported cases are increasing at a rapid rate, new endemic areas continue to appear, and in Australia cases are becoming more severe. The reasons for this changing epidemiology are unknown. We review the epidemiology of M. ulcerans disease worldwide, and document recent changes. We also outline and discuss the current state of knowledge on the ecology of M. ulcerans, possible transmission mechanisms to humans and what may be enabling the spread of M. ulcerans into new endemic areas.
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13
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Camp JV, Bakonyi T, Soltész Z, Zechmeister T, Nowotny N. Uranotaenia unguiculata Edwards, 1913 are attracted to sound, feed on amphibians, and are infected with multiple viruses. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:456. [PMID: 30081963 PMCID: PMC6090806 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3030-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Uranotaenia unguiculata Edwards, 1913 is a species of mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) native to central Europe. Recently a novel lineage of the West Nile virus (WNV-lineage 4c) was identified in pools of adult female Ur. unguiculata. To increase the body of knowledge about this species, various trapping methods were evaluated to determine the most efficient method for capturing adult female Ur. unguiculata. Results Sound traps collected equivalent numbers of female Ur. unguiculata as low-hanging light-baited downdraft traps. Hosts were identified as Pelophylax lessonae and P. ridibunda (Anura: Ranidae) species group frogs from the blood found in engorged females. In addition to confirming infection by WNV-lin. 4c, a potentially integrated flavivirus sequence was detected in male mosquitoes. A novel Alphamesonivirus 1 (Nidovirales: Mesoniviridae) was found to be widespread in the Ur. unguiculata population and is herein described. Conclusions Efficient collection methods for Ur. unguiculata for arbovirus surveillance reflect mosquito questing behavior. Uranotaenia unguiculata targets frog species which call from the water, and it is likely that the novel WNV-lin. 4c is maintained in a frog-mosquito transmission cycle. The improved trapping methods listed here will assist future studies of the vector status of Ur. unguiculata for WNV and other arboviruses. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-3030-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy V Camp
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Tamás Bakonyi
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Soltész
- Lendület Ecosystem Services Research Group, MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Vácrátót, Hungary.,Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Norbert Nowotny
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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14
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Stephenson EB, Peel AJ, Reid SA, Jansen CC, McCallum H. The non-human reservoirs of Ross River virus: a systematic review of the evidence. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:188. [PMID: 29554936 PMCID: PMC5859426 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2733-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 02/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the non-human reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens is critical for effective disease control, but identifying the relative contributions of the various reservoirs of multi-host pathogens is challenging. For Ross River virus (RRV), knowledge of the transmission dynamics, in particular the role of non-human species, is important. In Australia, RRV accounts for the highest number of human mosquito-borne virus infections. The long held dogma that marsupials are better reservoirs than placental mammals, which are better reservoirs than birds, deserves critical review. We present a review of 50 years of evidence on non-human reservoirs of RRV, which includes experimental infection studies, virus isolation studies and serosurveys. We find that whilst marsupials are competent reservoirs of RRV, there is potential for placental mammals and birds to contribute to transmission dynamics. However, the role of these animals as reservoirs of RRV remains unclear due to fragmented evidence and sampling bias. Future investigations of RRV reservoirs should focus on quantifying complex transmission dynamics across environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloise B Stephenson
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, 4111, Australia.
| | - Alison J Peel
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, 4111, Australia
| | - Simon A Reid
- The University of Queensland, School of Public Health, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, 4006, Australia
| | - Cassie C Jansen
- Metro North Public Health Unit, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Windsor, Brisbane, Queensland, 4030, Australia.,Communicable Diseases Branch, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, 4006, Australia
| | - Hamish McCallum
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, 4111, Australia
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15
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Duchemin JB, Mee PT, Lynch SE, Vedururu R, Trinidad L, Paradkar P. Zika vector transmission risk in temperate Australia: a vector competence study. Virol J 2017; 14:108. [PMID: 28599659 PMCID: PMC5466793 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-017-0772-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Accepted: 06/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Zika virus is an emerging pathogen of global importance. It has been responsible for recent outbreaks in the Americas and in the Pacific region. This study assessed five different mosquito species from the temperate climatic zone in Australia and included Aedes albopictus as a potentially invasive species. Methods Mosquitoes were orally challenged by membrane feeding with Zika virus strain of Cambodia 2010 origin, belonging to the Asian clade. Virus infection and dissemination were assessed by quantitative PCR on midgut and carcass after dissection. Transmission was assessed by determination of cytopathogenic effect of saliva (CPE) on Vero cells, followed by determination of 50% tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50) for CPE positive samples. Additionally, the presence of Wolbachia endosymbiont infection was assessed by qPCR and standard PCR. Results Culex mosquitoes were found unable to present Zika virus in saliva, as demonstrated by molecular as well as virological methods. Aedes aegypti, was used as a positive control for Zika infection and showed a high level of virus infection, dissemination and transmission. Local Aedes species, Ae. notoscriptus and, to a lesser degree, Ae. camptorhynchus were found to expel virus in their saliva and contained viral nucleic acid within the midgut. Molecular assessment identified low or no dissemination for these species, possibly due to low virus loads. Ae. albopictus from Torres Strait islands origin was shown as an efficient vector. Cx quinquefasciatus was shown to harbour Wolbachia endosymbionts at high prevalence, whilst no Wolbachia was found in Cx annulirostris. The Australian Ae. albopictus population was shown to harbour Wolbachia at high frequency. Conclusions The risk of local Aedes species triggering large Zika epidemics in the southern parts of Australia is low. The potentially invasive Ae. albopictus showed high prevalence of virus in the saliva and constitutes a potential threat if this mosquito species becomes established in mainland Australia. Complete risk analysis of Zika transmission in the temperate zone would require an assessment of the impact of temperature on Zika virus replication within local and invasive mosquito species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Bernard Duchemin
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, 5 Portarlington Road, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
| | - Peter T Mee
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, 5 Portarlington Road, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
| | - Stacey E Lynch
- BioScience Research, Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, The Centre for AgriBioscience, 5 Ring Rd, La Trobe University Campus, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia
| | - Ravikiran Vedururu
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, 5 Portarlington Road, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia.,School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia
| | - Lee Trinidad
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, 5 Portarlington Road, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
| | - Prasad Paradkar
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, 5 Portarlington Road, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia.
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16
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Eshun O, Gerry A, Hayes WK. Mosquito Capture Rate Using CO2-Baited Traps in Relation to Distance From Water and Height: Implications for Avian Disease Transmission. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2016; 53:1378-1384. [PMID: 27493249 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjw120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Accepted: 07/05/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that enzootic transmission of pathogens such as West Nile virus (WNV) by mosquitoes is governed by host-bird interactions, including mosquito preferences for specific species and developmental stages of host birds, host bird availability, and host defensive behavior. Here, we examined how the attack rate of five mosquito species in southern California was influenced by the position of CO2-baited traps in relation to distance from water and trap height. We identified 44,207 female mosquitoes representing five species: Aedes vexans Meigen, Anopheles franciscanus McCracken, Anopheles hermsi Barr & Guptavanij, and the two most abundant species which are also WNV vectors, Culex erythrothorax Dyar and Culex tarsalis Coquillett. Mosquito captures decreased markedly with trap height, and also decreased with distance from a riparian area but not with distance from an open water source lacking a vegetated border. The results of this study suggest that WNV-competent ornithophilic mosquitoes may amplify the virus especially in reservoir birds that roost or nest close to the ground and near riparian vegetation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Eshun
- Department of Earth and Biological Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350 (; )
| | - Alec Gerry
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521
| | - William K Hayes
- Department of Earth and Biological Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350 (; )
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17
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Effects of landscape anthropization on mosquito community composition and abundance. Sci Rep 2016; 6:29002. [PMID: 27373794 PMCID: PMC4931447 DOI: 10.1038/srep29002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2015] [Accepted: 06/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic landscape transformation has an important effect on vector-borne pathogen transmission. However, the effects of urbanization on mosquito communities are still only poorly known. Here, we evaluate how land-use characteristics are related to the abundance and community composition of mosquitoes in an area with endemic circulation of numerous mosquito-borne pathogens. We collected 340 829 female mosquitoes belonging to 13 species at 45 localities spatially grouped in 15 trios formed by 1 urban, 1 rural and 1 natural area. Mosquito abundance and species richness were greater in natural and rural areas than in urban areas. Environmental factors including land use, vegetation and hydrological characteristics were related to mosquito abundance and community composition. Given the differing competences of each species in pathogen transmission, these results provide valuable information on the transmission potential of mosquito-borne pathogens that will be of great use in public and animal health management by allowing, for instance, the identification of the priority areas for pathogen surveillance and vector control.
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18
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Flies EJ, Flies AS, Fricker SR, Weinstein P, Williams CR. Regional Comparison of Mosquito Bloodmeals in South Australia: Implications for Ross River Virus Ecology. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2016; 53:902-910. [PMID: 27113100 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjw035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2015] [Accepted: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Ross River virus (RRV) is responsible for the most notifications of human arboviral infection in Australia. Seroprevalence and experimental infection studies have implicated macropods (e.g., kangaroos) as the major reservoir hosts. However, transmission ecology varies spatially, and infections in urban areas have prompted the question of what animals serve as reservoirs in regions where macropods are scarce. In South Australia (SA), human infection rates for RRV vary greatly by region as do vector and reservoir abundance. We hypothesized that mosquito abundance and feeding patterns would vary among ecoregions of SA and could help explain divergent human case rates. To test our hypothesis, we amplified and sequenced a 457 base pair region of the cytochrome B segment of mitochondrial DNA from blood fed mosquitoes collected in three main ecoregions of SA and identified sequences using a BLAST search in NCBI. Domestic livestock made up the vast majority of bloodmeals from the region with the highest human infection rate. Livestock are generally not considered to be important reservoir hosts for RRV, but our results suggest they may have a role in transmission ecology in some places. Surprisingly, none of the 199 bloodmeal samples were identified as macropod in origin. In the context of these findings, we consider the possible RRV vectors and reservoir hosts in these regions and propose that diverse spatial and temporal transmission ecologies occur in SA, depending on vector and reservoir availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily J Flies
- University of South Australia, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, GPO Box 2471 Adelaide SA 5001, Australia (; ; ; ),
| | - Andrew S Flies
- University of South Australia, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, GPO Box 2471 Adelaide SA 5001, Australia (; ; ; )
- University of Tasmania, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, 17 Liverpool St., Hobart TAS 7000, Australia, and
| | - Stephen R Fricker
- University of South Australia, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, GPO Box 2471 Adelaide SA 5001, Australia (; ; ; )
| | - Philip Weinstein
- Adelaide University, School of Biological Sciences, Molecular Life Sciences Ground Level, North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5005, Australia
| | - Craig R Williams
- University of South Australia, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, GPO Box 2471 Adelaide SA 5001, Australia (; ; ; )
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Improving public health intervention for mosquito-borne disease: the value of geovisualization using source of infection and LandScan data. Epidemiol Infect 2016; 144:3108-3119. [DOI: 10.1017/s0950268816001357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYEpidemiological studies use georeferenced health data to identify disease clusters but the accuracy of this georeferencing is obfuscated by incorrectly assigning the source of infection and by aggregating case data to larger geographical areas. Often, place of residence (residence) is used as a proxy for the source of infection (source) which may not be accurate. Using a 21-year dataset from South Australia of human infections with the mosquito-borne Ross River virus, we found that 37% of cases were believed to have been acquired away from home. We constructed two risk maps using age-standardized morbidity ratios (SMRs) calculated using residence and patient-reported source. Both maps confirm significant inter-suburb variation in SMRs. Areas frequently named as the source (but not residence) and the highest-risk suburbs both tend to be tourist locations with vector mosquito habitat, and camping or outdoor recreational opportunities. We suggest the highest-risk suburbs as places to focus on for disease control measures. We also use a novel application of ambient population data (LandScan) to improve the interpretation of these risk maps and propose how this approach can aid in implementing disease abatement measures on a smaller scale than for which disease data are available.
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