Unexpected spatiotemporal abundance of infected Culex restuans suggest a greater role as a West Nile virus vector for this native species

Johnson, Brian J.; Robson, Mark G.; Fonseca, Dina M.

doi:10.1016/j.meegid.2015.01.007

Cited by 38 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Culex mosquitoes, disease ecology, pathogen transmission, urban ecology, vector control, vectorial capacity, West Nile virus transmission season presents the opportunity to investigate the likelihood that Cx. restuans contributes to enzootic WNv transmission by extending the transmission season and/or by being involved in WNv overwintering (Johnson, Robson, & Fonseca, 2015;Reiter, 1988).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking the vectorial capacity of multiple vectors to observed patterns of West Nile virus transmission

McMillan

Blakney

Mead

et al. 2019

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Theoretical models suggest that increased vector species participation in pathogen transmission significantly increases the prevalence of vector and host infections. However, there has been a lack of empirical evidence to support this. We linked transmission potential of multiple vector species to observed patterns of enzootic pathogen transmission by conducting longitudinal field surveillance of West Nile virus (WNv) infections in Culex spp. mosquitoes and avian host communities in the southeast U.S. We then used a temperature‐dependent vectorial capacity model as a predictor of WNv infections in mosquitoes and birds using general linear mixed effects models. Two WNv‐competent Culex spp. mosquitoes were present in our study sites, Culex restuans Theobald during the spring and Culex quinquefasciatus Say during the summer. Empirical evidence of WNv transmission was limited exclusively to time periods when night time temperatures were suitable for accelerated within‐vector viral replication, susceptible avian hosts (i.e. hatch year birds) were abundant and Cx. quinquefasciatus was the primary Culex spp. vector in the mosquito community. Contrary to theoretical predictions, increased presence of competent vector species through time did not significantly increase the prevalence of infections in the WNv enzootic system. Synthesis and applications. We extend a common theoretical model to both estimate the transmission potential of a mosquito community for West Nile virus (WNv) and quantify the relative contribution of two Culex mosquito species (Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex restuans) to observed patterns of WNv in the southeast U.S. Our findings suggest that to reduce the risk of human exposure to WNv in urban environments, vector control should focus on the primary WNv vector, Cx. quinquefasciatus. Additionally, vector control may be more effective if it coincides with the onset of the avian breeding season, when most WNv amplification occurs. Moreover, our results highlight relevant knowledge gaps pertaining to WNv transmission by secondary mosquito species that coexist either in time or space with Cx. quinquefasciatus. A better understanding of secondary WNv vector species is greatly needed in order to appropriately gauge their role in pathogen transmission dynamics.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking the vectorial capacity of multiple vectors to observed patterns of West Nile virus transmission

McMillan

Blakney

Mead

et al. 2019

Journal of Applied Ecology

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“…The lack of statistical significance could be due to the small sample sizes, as Cx. pipiens is primarily an urban mosquito that occurs with low frequency in natural sites . Additionally, lower frequency and diversity of resistant alleles in the large and medium wetland sites may be due to the poor penetration of ground‐applied adulticides in these areas.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insecticide resistance alleles in wetland and residential populations of the West Nile virus vectorCulex pipiensin New Jersey

Johnson

Fonseca

2015

Pest. Manag. Sci.

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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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“…Once DNA collection was completed, we handled filter membranes with flame‐sterilized tweezers, cut pieces approximately 14 mm 2 from the center of the filter with flame‐sterilized scissors, and extracted DNA using an affordable and readily available HotSHOT extraction (Johnson et al . ) (Panel 1). To assess the presence of BMSB DNA in these samples, we used a TaqMan quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay designed specifically for BMSB (for details regarding assessments of specificity and sensitivity, see Valentin et al .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Following one methodology in the eDNA literature (eg Rees et al 2014;Turner et al 2014), we used a peristaltic pump (Pegasus Alexis, Pegasus Pump Company, Bradenton, FL) and a 10μm polycarbonate track-etched (PCTE) filter membrane (GVS North America, Sanford, ME) combination to remove the DNA from the water. Once DNA collection was completed, we handled filter membranes with flame-sterilized tweezers, cut pieces approximately 14 mm 2 from the center of the filter with flame-sterilized scissors, and extracted DNA using an affordable and readily available HotSHOT extraction (Johnson et al 2015) (Panel 1). To assess the presence of BMSB DNA in these samples, we used a TaqMan quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay designed specifically for BMSB (for details regarding assessments of specificity and sensitivity, see Valentin et al 2016).…”

Section: Target Edna Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early detection of invasive exotic insect infestations using eDNA from crop surfaces

Valentin

Fonseca

Nielsen

et al. 2018

Frontiers in Ecol & Environ

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The number of exotic species invasions has increased over recent decades, as have the ecological harm and economic burdens they impose. Rapid‐response eradication of nascent exotic populations is a viable approach to minimizing damage, but implementation is limited by the difficulty of detecting such species during the early stages of infestation due to their small numbers. The use of environmental DNA (eDNA) has helped address this issue in aquatic ecosystems, but to the best of our knowledge has not been trialed for surveillance of exotic species in terrestrial systems. Using a high‐resolution, real‐time (quantitative) polymerase chain reaction assay, we developed a highly efficient protocol to survey agricultural fields for the invasive non‐native brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB; Halyomorpha halys). We compared results using eDNA to those for conventional monitoring traps and documented substantially higher sensitivity and detection effectiveness. Our methodology is transferable to situations in which the DNA of terrestrial target species can be accumulated into a single substrate, suggesting that eDNA‐based approaches could transform our ability to detect exotic insects in non‐aquatic settings.

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Unexpected spatiotemporal abundance of infected Culex restuans suggest a greater role as a West Nile virus vector for this native species

Cited by 38 publications

References 36 publications

Linking the vectorial capacity of multiple vectors to observed patterns of West Nile virus transmission

Linking the vectorial capacity of multiple vectors to observed patterns of West Nile virus transmission

Insecticide resistance alleles in wetland and residential populations of the West Nile virus vectorCulex pipiensin New Jersey

Early detection of invasive exotic insect infestations using eDNA from crop surfaces

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