Last data update: Jan 27, 2025. (Total: 48650 publications since 2009)
Records 1-30 (of 54 Records) |
Query Trace: Mutebi JP[original query] |
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Climate and urbanization drive mosquito preference for humans (preprint)
Rose NH , Sylla M , Badolo A , Lutomiah J , Ayala D , Aribodor OB , Ibe N , Akorli J , Otoo S , Mutebi JP , Kriete AL , Ewing EG , Sang R , Gloria-Soria A , Powell JR , Baker RE , White BJ , Crawford JE , McBride CS . bioRxiv 2020 2020.02.12.939041 The majority of mosquito-borne illness is spread by a few mosquito species that have evolved to specialize in biting humans, yet the precise causes of this behavioral shift are poorly understood. We address this gap in the arboviral vector Aedes aegypti. We first characterize the behaviour of mosquitoes from 27 sites scattered across the species’ ancestral range in sub-Saharan Africa, revealing previously unrecognized diversity in female preference for human versus animal odor. We then use modelling to show that this diversity can be almost fully predicted by two ecological factors – dry season intensity and human population density. Finally we integrate this information with whole genome sequence data from 345 individual mosquitoes to identify a single underlying ancestry component linked to human preference, with genetic changes concentrated in a few key chromosomal regions. Our findings strongly suggest that human-biting in this important disease vector originally evolved as a by-product of breeding in human-stored water in areas where doing so provided the only means to survive the long, hot dry season. Our model also predicts that changes in human population density are likely to drive future mosquito evolution. Rapid urbanization may drive a shift to human-biting in many cities across Africa by 2050. |
Spatiotemporal Distribution of Vector Mosquito Species and Areas at Risk for Arbovirus Transmission in Maricopa County, Arizona (preprint)
Wilke ABB , Damian D , Litvinova M , Byrne T , Zardini A , Poletti P , Merler S , Mutebi JP , Townsend J , Ajelli M . bioRxiv 2022 28 Mosquito-borne diseases are a major global public health concern and mosquito surveillance systems are essential for the implementation of effective mosquito control strategies. The objective of our study is to determine the spatiotemporal distribution of vector mosquito species in Maricopa County, AZ from 2011 to 2021, and to identify the hotspot areas for West Nile virus (WNV) and St. Louis Encephalitis virus (SLEV) transmission in 2021. The Maricopa County Mosquito Control surveillance system utilizes BG-Sentinel and EVS-CDC traps throughout the entire urban and suburban areas of the county. We estimated specific mosquito species relative abundance per unit area using the Kernel density estimator in ArcGIS 10.2. We calculated the distance between all traps in the surveillance system and created a 4 km buffer radius around each trap to calculate the extent to which each trap deviated from the mean number of Cx. quinquefasciatus and Cx. tarsalis collected in 2021. Our results show that vector mosquito species are widely distributed and abundant in the urban areas of Maricopa County. A total of 691,170 Culex quinquefasciatus, 542,733 Culex tarsalis, and 292,305 Aedes aegypti were collected from 2011 to 2022. The relative abundance of Ae. aegypti was highly seasonal peaking in the third and fourth quarters of the year. Culex quinquefasciatus, on the other hand, was abundant throughout the year with several regions consistently yielding high numbers of mosquitoes. Culex tarsalis was abundant but it only reached high numbers in well-defined areas bordering natural and rural areas. We also detected high levels of heterogeneity in the risk of WNV and SLEV transmission to humans disregarding traps geographical proximity. The well-defined species-specific spatiotemporal and geographical patterns found in this study can be used to inform vector control operations. Copyright The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under a CC-BY-ND 4.0 International license. |
From Surveillance To Control: Evaluation of A Larvicide Intervention Against Aedes aegypti In Brownsville, Texas
Garcia-Luna SM , Chaves LF , Juarez JG , Bolling BG , Rodriguez A , Presas YE , Mutebi JP , Weaver SC , Badillo-Vargas IE , Hamer GL , Qualls WA . J Am Mosq Control Assoc 2019 35 (3) 233-237 South Texas is recognized as a potential area for the emergence and re-emergence of mosquito-borne diseases due to recent circulation of Zika, chikungunya, and dengue viruses. During 2017, high Aedes aegypti abundance found in the city of Brownsville, TX, in combination with the previous year's local transmission of Zika virus, triggered the activation of the Texas Department of State Health Services Emergency Mosquito Control Contingency Contract. A contract with the Clarke Environmental and Mosquito Control was a response to control Ae. aegypti, using a ground-based wide-area larvicide spray (WALS™) containing Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis. The WALS application was evaluated through a field-based bioassay and by comparing surveillance data pre- and post-WALS application. The WALS application bioassay demonstrated that the larvicide was effective up to 60 m into the target properties. Additionally, the number of Ae. aegypti captured in traps decreased in the WALS intervention areas compared with the untreated control areas, with an estimated 29% control. |
Yata Virus (Family Rhabdoviridae, Genus Ephemerovirus) Isolation from Mosquitoes from Uganda, the First Reported Isolation since 1969.
Perinet LC , Mutebi JP , Powers AM , Lutwama JJ , Mossel EC . Diseases 2023 11 (1) ![]() As a part of a systematic study of mosquitoes and associated viruses in Uganda, a virus was isolated from a pool of Mansonia uniformis collected in July 2017, in the Kitgum District of northern Uganda. Sequence analysis determined that the virus is Yata virus (YATAV; Ephemerovirus yata; family Rhabdoviridae). The only previous reported isolation of YATAV was in 1969 in Birao, Central African Republic, also from Ma. uniformis mosquitoes. The current sequence is over 99% identical at the nucleotide level to the original isolate, indicating a high level of YATAV genomic stability. |
Spatiotemporal distribution of vector mosquito species and areas at risk for arbovirus transmission in Maricopa County, Arizona
Wilke ABB , Damian D , Litvinova M , Byrne T , Zardini A , Poletti P , Merler S , Mutebi JP , Townsend J , Ajelli M . Acta Trop 2023 240 106833 Mosquito-borne diseases are a major global public health concern and mosquito surveillance systems are essential for the implementation of effective mosquito control strategies. The objective of our study is to determine the spatiotemporal distribution of vector mosquito species in Maricopa County, AZ from 2011 to 2021, and to identify the hotspot areas for West Nile virus (WNV) and St. Louis Encephalitis virus (SLEV) transmission in 2021. The Maricopa County Mosquito Control surveillance system utilizes BG-Sentinel and EVS-CDC traps throughout the entire urban and suburban areas of the county. We estimated specific mosquito species relative abundance per unit area using the Kernel density estimator in ArcGIS 10.2. We calculated the distance between all traps in the surveillance system and created a 4 km buffer radius around each trap to calculate the extent to which each trap deviated from the mean number of Cx. quinquefasciatus and Cx. tarsalis collected in 2021. Our results show that vector mosquito species are widely distributed and abundant in the urban areas of Maricopa County. A total of 691,170 Culex quinquefasciatus, 542,733 Culex tarsalis, and 292,305 Aedes aegypti were collected from 2011 to 2022. The relative abundance of Ae. aegypti was highly seasonal peaking in the third and fourth quarters of the year. Culex quinquefasciatus, on the other hand, was abundant throughout the year with several regions consistently yielding high numbers of mosquitoes. Culex tarsalis was abundant but it only reached high numbers in well-defined areas near irrigated landscapes. We also detected high levels of heterogeneity in the risk of WNV and SLEV transmission to humans disregarding traps geographical proximity. The well-defined species-specific spatiotemporal and geographical patterns found in this study can be used to inform vector control operations. |
Diel activity patterns of vector mosquito species in the urban environment: Implications for vector control strategies
Wilke ABB , Mhlanga A , Kummer AG , Vasquez C , Moreno M , Petrie WD , Rodriguez A , Vitek C , Hamer GL , Mutebi JP , Ajelli M . PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023 17 (1) e0011074 Mathematical models have been widely used to study the population dynamics of mosquitoes as well as to test and validate the effectiveness of arbovirus outbreak responses and mosquito control strategies. The objective of this study is to assess the diel activity of mosquitoes in Miami-Dade, Florida, and Brownsville, Texas, the most affected areas during the Zika outbreak in 2016-2017, and to evaluate the effectiveness of simulated adulticide treatments on local mosquito populations. To assess variations in the diel activity patterns, mosquitoes were collected hourly for 96 hours once a month from May through November 2019 in Miami-Dade County, Florida, and Brownsville, Texas. We then performed a PERMANOVA followed by a SIMPER analysis to assess whether the abundance and species richness significantly varies at different hours of the day. Finally, we used a mathematical model to simulate the population dynamics of 5 mosquito vector species and evaluate the effectiveness of the simulated adulticide applications. A total of 14,502 mosquitoes comprising 17 species were collected in Brownsville and 10,948 mosquitoes comprising 19 species were collected in Miami-Dade County. Aedes aegypti was the most common mosquito species collected every hour in both cities and peaking in abundance in the morning and the evening. Our modeling results indicate that the effectiveness of adulticide applications varied greatly depending on the hour of the treatment. In both study locations, 9 PM was the best time for adulticide applications targeting all mosquito vector species; mornings/afternoons (9 AM- 5 PM) yielded low effectiveness, especially for Culex species, while at night (12 AM- 6 AM) the effectiveness was particularly low for Aedes species. Our results indicate that the timing of adulticide spraying interventions should be carefully considered by local authorities based on the ecology of the target mosquito species in the focus area. |
Human biting mosquitoes and implications for West Nile virus transmission
Uelmen JA Jr , Lamcyzk B , Irwin P , Bartlett D , Stone C , Mackay A , Arsenault-Benoit A , Ryan SJ , Mutebi JP , Hamer GL , Fritz M , Smith RL . Parasit Vectors 2023 16 (1) 2 BACKGROUND: West Nile virus (WNV), primarily vectored by mosquitoes of the genus Culex, is the most important mosquito-borne pathogen in North America, having infected thousands of humans and countless wildlife since its arrival in the USA in 1999. In locations with dedicated mosquito control programs, surveillance methods often rely on frequent testing of mosquitoes collected in a network of gravid traps (GTs) and CO(2)-baited light traps (LTs). Traps specifically targeting oviposition-seeking (e.g. GTs) and host-seeking (e.g. LTs) mosquitoes are vulnerable to trap bias, and captured specimens are often damaged, making morphological identification difficult. METHODS: This study leverages an alternative mosquito collection method, the human landing catch (HLC), as a means to compare sampling of potential WNV vectors to traditional trapping methods. Human collectors exposed one limb for 15 min at crepuscular periods (5:00-8:30 am and 6:00-9:30 pm daily, the time when Culex species are most actively host-seeking) at each of 55 study sites in suburban Chicago, Illinois, for two summers (2018 and 2019). RESULTS: A total of 223 human-seeking mosquitoes were caught by HLC, of which 46 (20.6%) were mosquitoes of genus Culex. Of these 46 collected Culex specimens, 34 (73.9%) were Cx. salinarius, a potential WNV vector species not thought to be highly abundant in upper Midwest USA. Per trapping effort, GTs and LTs collected > 7.5-fold the number of individual Culex specimens than HLC efforts. CONCLUSIONS: The less commonly used HLC method provides important insight into the complement of human-biting mosquitoes in a region with consistent WNV epidemics. This study underscores the value of the HLC collection method as a complementary tool for surveillance to aid in WNV vector species characterization. However, given the added risk to the collector, novel mitigation methods or alternative approaches must be explored to incorporate HLC collections safely and strategically into control programs. |
The unreachable doorbells of South Texas: Community engagement in colonias on the US-Mexico border for mosquito control
Juarez JG , Carbajal E , Dickinson KL , Garcia-Luna S , Vuong N , Mutebi JP , Hemme RR , Badillo-Vargas I , Hamer GL . BMC Public Health 2022 22 (1) 1176 Mosquitoes and the diseases they transmit continue to place millions of people at risk of infection around the world. Novel methods of vector control are being developed to provide public health officials with the necessary tools to prevent disease transmission and reduce local mosquito populations. However, these methods will require public acceptance for a sustainable approach and evaluations at local settings. We present our efforts in community engagement carried out in colonias of the Lower Rio Grande Valley in south Texas for mosquito surveillance, control, and ecological projects. Along the US-Mexico border the term colonia refers to impoverished communities that are usually inhabited by families of Hispanic heritage. The different engagements were carried out from September 2016 to February 2019; during this time, we had three distinct phases for community engagement. In Phase 1 we show the initial approach to the colonias in which we assessed security and willingness to participate; in Phase 2 we carried out the first recruitment procedure involving community meetings and house-to-house recruitment; and in Phase 3 we conducted a modified recruitment procedure based on community members' input. Our findings show that incorporating community members in the development of communication materials and following their suggestions for engagement allowed us to generate culturally sensitive recruitment materials and to better understand the social relationships and power dynamics within these communities. We were able to effectively reach a larger portion of the community and decrease the dropout rate of participants. Progress gained with building trust in the communities allowed us to convey participant risks and benefits of collaborating with our research projects. Community engagement should be viewed as a key component of any local vector control program as well as for any scientific research project related to vector control. Even in the face of budgetary constraints, small efforts in community engagement go a long way. |
Diel activity patterns of two distinct populations of Aedes aegypti in Miami, FL and Brownsville, TX
Mutebi JP , Wilke ABB , Ostrum E , Vasquez C , Cardenas G , Carvajal A , Moreno M , Petrie WD , Rodriguez A , Presas H , Rodriguez J , Barnes F , Hamer GL , Juarez JG , Carbajal E , Vitek CJ , Estrada X , Rios T , Marshall J , Beier JC . Sci Rep 2022 12 (1) 5315 The diel biting activity of Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (L) populations was extensively investigated in the early 1900s to gain more information on the biology of Ae. aegypti, and this information was used to devise effective approaches to controlling populations of this species and protect the human population from widespread arbovirus outbreaks. However, few contemporary studies are available regarding the diel activity patterns of Ae. aegypti. To assess the diel activity patterns of Ae. aegypti in southern Florida and Texas, we conducted 96-h uninterrupted mosquito collections once each month from May through November 2019 in Miami, Florida, and Brownsville, Texas, using BG-Sentinel 2 Traps. The overall diel activity pattern in both cities was bimodal with morning and evening peak activity between 7:00 and 8:00 and between 19:00 and 20:00. There were significant daily, monthly, seasonal, and site-specific differences in activity patterns, but these differences did not affect the overall peak activity times. These differences suggest daily, monthly, seasonal, and site-specific variations in human exposure to Ae. aegypti. Our observations can be used in planning and executing Ae. aegypti vector control activities in southern Florida and southern Texas, specifically those targeting the adult mosquito populations. |
Entomological investigation following a Zika outbreak in Brownsville, Texas
Mutebi JP , Godsey M , Rose D , Barnes F , Rodriguez J , Presas YE , Qualls W , Bolling B , Rodriguez A . J Am Mosq Control Assoc 2021 37 (4) 286-290 In November and December 2016, an outbreak of locally transmitted Zika occurred in Brownsville, TX. The Texas Department of State Health Services requested for a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Epi Aid, and as part of that Epi Aid a team of CDC entomologists was deployed in January 2017. The mission was to improve mosquito-based arbovirus surveillance and evaluate the possibility of continuing local Zika virus (ZIKV) transmission in the city. The mosquito-based arbovirus surveillance program was expanded from 4 to 40 BG-Sentinel traps evenly distributed throughout the city. Over a 2-wk period, 15 mosquito species were detected; the most abundant species were Culex quinquefasciatus, Aedes aegypti, and Ae. albopictus, which accounted for 66.7%, 16.2%, and 5.7% of the total mosquito collection, respectively. The relative abundance of Ae. aegypti (1.0 mosquitoes/trap/day) and Ae. albopictus (0.4 mosquitoes/trap/day) was very low and unlikely to initiate and/or sustain ZIKV transmission. Zika virus was not detected in the mosquitoes collected, suggesting no or extremely low ZIKV transmission at that time. |
Use of Cervid Serosurveys to Monitor Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus Activity in Northern New England, United States, 2009-2017
Mutebi JP , Mathewson AA , Elias SP , Robinson S , Graham AC , Casey P , Lubelczyk CB . J Med Entomol 2021 59 (1) 49-55 Vertebrate surveillance for eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) activity usually focuses on three types of vertebrates: horses, passerine birds, and sentinel chicken flocks. However, there is a variety of wild vertebrates that are exposed to EEEV infections and can be used to track EEEV activity. In 2009, we initiated a pilot study in northern New England, United States, to evaluate the effectiveness of using wild cervids (free-ranging white-tailed deer and moose) as spatial sentinels for EEEV activity. In Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont during 2009-2017, we collected blood samples from hunter-harvested cervids at tagging stations and obtained harvest location information from hunters. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention processed the samples for EEEV antibodies using plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNTs). We detected EEEV antibodies in 6 to 17% of cervid samples in the different states and mapped cervid EEEV seropositivity in northern New England. EEEV antibody-positive cervids were the first detections of EEEV activity in the state of Vermont, in northern Maine, and northern New Hampshire. Our key result was the detection of the antibodies in areas far outside the extent of documented wild bird, mosquito, human case, or veterinary case reports of EEEV activity in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. These findings showed that cervid (deer and moose) serosurveys can be used to characterize the geographic extent of EEEV activity, especially in areas with low EEEV activity or with little or no EEEV surveillance. Cervid EEEV serosurveys can be a useful tool for mapping EEEV activity in areas of North America in addition to northern New England. |
Local conditions favor dengue transmission in the contiguous United States
Wilke ABB , Wisinski BF , Benelli G , Vasquez C , Mutebi JP , Petrie WD , Beier JC . Entomol Gen 2021 41 (5) 523-529 A significant increase in dengue transmission has been reported in the United States even though cases are much fewer than in endemic areas in the Americas. In this context, Florida has been disproportionally afflicted by locally transmitted cases of dengue virus. In our opinion, there is a need to understand why Florida is at a higher risk of dengue transmission than other regions in the United States. Understanding mechanisms and the main drivers for dengue transmission are essential to further the development of effective vector control strategies at the forefront of vector biology and control research. This is especially important for preventing counties such as Miami-Dade in Florida from becoming endemic for dengue and other arboviruses. |
Vector competence of Aedes aegypti populations from Entebbe, Uganda, for Zika virus
Mutebi JP , Lutwama JJ . Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020 104 (2) 564-566 We evaluated the vector competence of three strains of Aedes aegypti formosus from Entebbe, Uganda, for Zika virus (ZIKV). The aim was to find out if these strains were competent or incompetent vectors for ZIKV, to explain the lack of ZIKV outbreaks in the city of Entebbe. We observed transmission rates ranging from 33% to 78%; however, these rates were not statistically significantly different, suggesting that there were no real differences among the strains. Nonetheless, this showed that populations of Ae. aegypti formosus in Entebbe are competent vectors for ZIKV. The reason why there is no detectable transmission of ZIKV to humans in Entebbe is currently unknown. The lack of detectable transmission despite Ae. aegypti formosus competence for ZIKV suggests that other parameters, such as preference for nonhuman blood, may be limiting its ability to serve as a vector. |
Enhanced Zika virus susceptibility of globally invasive Aedes aegypti populations.
Aubry F , Dabo S , Manet C , Filipović I , Rose NH , Miot EF , Martynow D , Baidaliuk A , Merkling SH , Dickson LB , Crist AB , Anyango VO , Romero-Vivas CM , Vega-Rúa A , Dusfour I , Jiolle D , Paupy C , Mayanja MN , Lutwama JJ , Kohl A , Duong V , Ponlawat A , Sylla M , Akorli J , Otoo S , Lutomiah J , Sang R , Mutebi JP , Cao-Lormeau VM , Jarman RG , Diagne CT , Faye O , Faye O , Sall AA , McBride CS , Montagutelli X , Rašić G , Lambrechts L . Science 2020 370 (6519) 991-996 ![]() ![]() The drivers and patterns of zoonotic virus emergence in the human population are poorly understood. The mosquito Aedes aegypti is a major arbovirus vector native to Africa that invaded most of the world's tropical belt over the past four centuries, after the evolution of a "domestic" form that specialized in biting humans and breeding in water storage containers. Here, we show that human specialization and subsequent spread of A. aegypti out of Africa were accompanied by an increase in its intrinsic ability to acquire and transmit the emerging human pathogen Zika virus. Thus, the recent evolution and global expansion of A. aegypti promoted arbovirus emergence not solely through increased vector-host contact but also as a result of enhanced vector susceptibility. |
Short Report: Eastern equine encephalitis virus seroprevalence in Maine cervids, 2012-2017
Kenney JL , Henderson E , Mutebi JP , Saxton-Shaw K , Bosco-Lauth A , Elias SP , Robinson S , Smith RP , Lubelczyk C . Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020 103 (6) 2438-2441 Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) first emerged in Maine in the early 2000s and resulted in an epizootic outbreak in 2009. Since 2009, serum samples from cervids throughout Maine have been collected and assessed for the presence of neutralizing antibodies to EEEV to assess EEEV activity throughout the state. We tested 1,119 Odocoileus virginianus (white-tailed deer) and 982 Alces americanus (moose) serum samples collected at tagging stations during the hunting seasons from 2012 to 2017 throughout the state of Maine. Odocoileus virginianus from all 16 counties were EEEV seropositive, whereas A. americanus were seropositive in the northwestern counties of Aroostook, Somerset, Piscataquis, and Franklin counties. Seroprevalence in O. virginianus ranged from 6.6% to 21.2% and in A. americanus from 6.6% to 10.1%. Data from this report in conjunction with findings previously reported from 2009 to 2011 indicate that EEEV is endemic throughout Maine. |
Proliferation of Aedes aegypti in urban environments mediated by the availability of key aquatic habitats
Wilke ABB , Vasquez C , Carvajal A , Medina J , Chase C , Cardenas G , Mutebi JP , Petrie WD , Beier JC . Sci Rep 2020 10 (1) 12925 Aedes aegypti is the main vector of dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever viruses. Controlling populations of vector mosquito species in urban environments is a major challenge and being able to determine what aquatic habitats should be prioritized for controlling Ae. aegypti populations is key to the development of more effective mosquito control strategies. Therefore, our objective was to leverage on the Miami-Dade County, Florida immature mosquito surveillance system based on requested by citizen complaints through 311 calls to determine what are the most important aquatic habitats in the proliferation of Ae. aegypti in Miami. We used a tobit model for Ae. aegypti larvae and pupae count data, type and count of aquatic habitats, and daily rainfall. Our results revealed that storm drains had 45% lower percentage of Ae. aegypti larvae over the total of larvae and pupae adjusted for daily rainfall when compared to tires, followed by bromeliads with 33% and garbage cans with 17%. These results are indicating that storm drains, bromeliads and garbage cans had significantly more pupae in relation to larvae when compared to tires, traditionally know as productive aquatic habitats for Ae. aegypti. Ultimately, the methodology and results from this study can be used by mosquito control agencies to identify habitats that should be prioritized in mosquito management and control actions, as well as to guide and improve policies and increase community awareness and engagement. Moreover, by targeting the most productive aquatic habitats this approach will allow the development of critical emergency outbreak responses by directing the control response efforts to the most productive aquatic habitats. |
Climate and Urbanization Drive Mosquito Preference for Humans.
Rose NH , Sylla M , Badolo A , Lutomiah J , Ayala D , Aribodor OB , Ibe N , Akorli J , Otoo S , Mutebi JP , Kriete AL , Ewing EG , Sang R , Gloria-Soria A , Powell JR , Baker RE , White BJ , Crawford JE , McBride CS . Curr Biol 2020 30 (18) 3570-3579 e6 ![]() The majority of mosquito-borne illness is spread by a few mosquito species that have evolved to specialize in biting humans, yet the precise causes of this behavioral shift are poorly understood. We address this gap in the arboviral vector Aedes aegypti. We first collect and characterize the behavior of mosquitoes from 27 sites scattered across the species' ancestral range in sub-Saharan Africa, revealing previously unrecognized variation in preference for human versus animal odor. We then use modeling to show that over 80% of this variation can be predicted by two ecological factors-dry season intensity and human population density. Finally, we integrate this information with whole-genome sequence data from 375 individual mosquitoes to identify a single underlying ancestry component linked to human preference. Genetic changes associated with human specialist ancestry were concentrated in a few chromosomal regions. Our findings suggest that human-biting in this important disease vector originally evolved as a by-product of breeding in human-stored water in areas where doing so provided the only means to survive the long, hot dry season. Our model also predicts that the rapid urbanization currently taking place in Africa will drive further mosquito evolution, causing a shift toward human-biting in many large cities by 2050. |
Mosquito control activities during local transmission of Zika virus, Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA, 2016
McAllister JC , Porcelli M , Medina JM , Delorey MJ , Connelly CR , Godsey MS , Panella NA , Dzuris N , Boegler KA , Kenney JL , Kothera L , Vizcaino L , Lenhart AE , Mutebi JP , Vasquez C . Emerg Infect Dis 2020 26 (5) 881-890 In 2016, four clusters of local mosquitoborne Zika virus transmission were identified in Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA, generating "red zones" (areas into which pregnant women were advised against traveling). The Miami-Dade County Mosquito Control Division initiated intensive control activities, including property inspections, community education, and handheld sprayer applications of larvicides and adulticides. For the first time, the Mosquito Control Division used a combination of areawide ultralow-volume adulticide and low-volume larvicide spraying to effectively control Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the primary Zika virus vector within the county. The number of mosquitoes rapidly decreased, and Zika virus transmission was interrupted within the red zones immediately after the combination of adulticide and larvicide spraying. |
Dispersal of female and male Aedes aegypti from discarded container habitats using a stable isotope mark-capture study design in South Texas
Juarez JG , Garcia-Luna S , Chaves LF , Carbajal E , Valdez E , Avila C , Tang W , Martin E , Barrera R , Hemme RR , Mutebi JP , Vuong N , Roark EB , Maupin CR , Badillo-Vargas IE , Hamer GL . Sci Rep 2020 10 (1) 6803 Aedes aegypti is the main vector of arboviral diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika. A key feature for disease transmission modeling and vector control planning is adult mosquito dispersal. We studied Ae aegypti adult dispersal by conducting a mark-capture study of naturally occurring Ae. aegypti from discarded containers found along a canal that divided two residential communities in Donna, Texas, USA. Stable isotopes were used to enrich containers with either (13)C or (15)N. Adult mosquitoes were collected outdoors in the yards of households throughout the communities with BG Sentinel 2 traps during a 12-week period. Marked mosquito pools with stable isotopes were used to estimate the mean distance travelled using three different approaches (Net, Strip or Circular) and the probability of detecting an isotopically marked adult at different distances from the larval habitat of origin. We consistently observed, using the three approaches that male (Net: 220 m, Strip: 255 m, Circular: 250 m) Ae. aegypti dispersed further in comparison to gravid (Net: 135 m, Strip: 176 m, Circular: 189 m) and unfed females (Net: 192 m, Strip: 213 m, Circular: 198 m). We also observed that marked male capture probability slightly increased with distance, while, for both unfed and gravid females, such probability decreased with distance. Using a unique study design documenting adult dispersal from natural larval habitat, our results suggest that Ae. aegypti adults disperse longer distances than previously reported. These results may help guide local vector control authorities in their fight against Ae. aegypti and the diseases it transmits, suggesting coverage of 200 m for the use of insecticides and innovative vector control tools. |
Consensus and uncertainty in the geographic range of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in the contiguous United States: Multi-model assessment and synthesis
Monaghan AJ , Eisen RJ , Eisen L , McAllister J , Savage HM , Mutebi JP , Johansson MA . PLoS Comput Biol 2019 15 (10) e1007369 Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (L.) and Ae. (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse) mosquitoes can transmit dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika viruses. Limited surveillance has led to uncertainty regarding the geographic ranges of these vectors globally, and particularly in regions at the present-day margins of habitat suitability such as the contiguous United States. Empirical habitat suitability models based on environmental conditions can augment surveillance gaps to describe the estimated potential species ranges, but model accuracy is unclear. We identified previously published regional and global habitat suitability models for Ae. aegypti (n = 6) and Ae. albopictus (n = 8) for which adequate information was available to reproduce the models for the contiguous U.S. Using a training subset of recently updated county-level surveillance records of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus and records of counties conducting surveillance, we constructed accuracy-weighted, probabilistic ensemble models from these base models. To assess accuracy and uncertainty we compared individual and ensemble model predictions of species presence or absence to both training and testing data. The ensemble models were among the most accurate and also provided calibrated probabilities of presence for each species. The quantitative probabilistic framework enabled identification of areas with high uncertainty and model bias across the U.S. where improved models or additional data could be most beneficial. The results may be of immediate utility for counties considering surveillance and control programs for Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. Moreover, the assessment framework can drive future efforts to provide validated quantitative estimates to support these programs at local, national, and international scales. |
Bloodmeal, Host Selection, and Genetic Admixture Analyses of Culex pipiens Complex (Diptera: Culicidae) Mosquitoes in Chicago, IL.
Kothera L , Mutebi JP , Kenney JL , Saxton-Shaw K , Ward MP , Savage HM . J Med Entomol 2019 57 (1) 78-87 ![]() ![]() The area in and around Chicago, IL, is a hotspot of West Nile virus activity. The discovery of a Culex pipiens form molestus Forskl population in Chicago in 2009 added to speculation that offspring from hybridization between Cx. pipiens f. pipiens L. and f. molestus could show a preference for feeding on humans. We collected blood-fed female mosquitoes (N = 1,023) from eight residential sites and one public park site in Chicago in July and August 2012. Bloodmeal analysis using the COI (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) gene was performed to ascertain host choice. Almost all (99%) bloodmeals came from birds, with American Robins (Turdus migratorius L.) and House Sparrows (Passer domesticus L.) making up the largest percentage (74% combined). A forage ratio analysis comparing bird species fed upon and available bird species based on point count surveys indicated Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) and American Robins (Turdus migratorius) appeared to be over-utilized, whereas several species were under-utilized. Two human bloodmeals came from Culex pipiens complex mosquitoes. Admixture and population genetic analyses were conducted with 15 microsatellite loci on head and thorax DNA from the collected blood-fed mosquitoes. A modest amount of hybridization was detected between Cx. pipiens f. pipiens and f. molestus, as well as between f. pipiens and Cx. quinquefasciatus Say. Several pure Cx. quinquefasciatus individuals were noted at the two Trumbull Park sites. Our data suggest that Cx. pipiens complex mosquitoes in the Chicago area are not highly introgressed with f. molestus and appear to utilize avian hosts. |
Reducing West Nile virus risk through vector management
Nasci RS , Mutebi JP . J Med Entomol 2019 56 (6) 1516-1521 Over 50,000 human West Nile virus (WNV) (Flaviviridae: Flavivirus) clinical disease cases have been reported to the CDC during the 20 yr that the virus has been present in the United States. Despite the establishment and expansion of WNV-focused mosquito surveillance and control efforts and a renewed emphasis on applying integrated pest management (IPM) principles to WNV control, periodic local and regional WNV epidemics with case reports exceeding 2,000 cases per year have occurred during 13 of those 20 yr in the United States. In this article, we examine the scientific literature for evidence that mosquito control activities directed at either preventing WNV outbreaks or stopping those outbreaks once in progress reduce WNV human disease or have a measurable impact on entomological indicators of human WNV risk. We found that, despite a proliferation of research investigating larval and adult mosquito control effectiveness, few of these studies actually measure epidemiological outcomes or the entomological surrogates of WNV risk. Although many IPM principles (e.g., control decisions based on surveillance, use of multiple control methodologies appropriate for the ecosystem) have been implemented effectively, the use of action thresholds or meaningful public health outcome assessments have not been used routinely. Establishing thresholds for entomological indicators of human risk analogous to the economic injury level and economic thresholds utilized in crop IPM programs may result in more effective WNV prevention. |
New county records of Aedes aegypti and Aedes epactius in Colorado
Ostrum EM , Mutebi JP . J Am Mosq Control Assoc 2019 35 (1) 47-50 In August and September 2017, we conducted mosquito surveillance in southeastern Colorado by using ovitraps and larval sampling. The aim was to determine if there were established populations of Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus in the region. A single female Ae. aegypti was reared from eggs collected in La Junta, CO, but Ae. albopictus was not detected. Three other species were reared from eggs and/or larvae: Ae. epactius, Culex restuans, and Cx. pipiens. Aedes aegypti and Ae. epactius were detected for the 1st time in Otero and Baca counties, respectively, and these became new county records for Colorado. Both species were detected in very low numbers, suggesting extremely low population density or sporadic introductions into southeastern Colorado. |
Zika virus MB16-23 in mosquitoes, Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA, 2016
Mutebi JP , Hughes HR , Burkhalter KL , Kothera L , Vasquez C , Kenney JL . Emerg Infect Dis 2018 24 (4) 808-10 ![]() We isolated a strain of Zika virus, MB16-23, from Aedes aegypti mosquitoes collected in Miami Beach, Florida, USA, on September 2, 2016. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that MB16-23 most likely originated from the Caribbean region. |
Mosquitoes of northwestern Uganda
Mutebi JP , Crabtree MB , Kading RC , Powers AM , Ledermann JP , Mossel EC , Zeidner N , Lutwama JJ , Miller BR . J Med Entomol 2018 55 (3) 587-599 Despite evidence of arbovirus activity in northwestern Uganda (West Nile Sub-region), there is very limited information on the mosquito fauna of this region. The only published study reported 52 mosquito species in northwestern Uganda but this study took place in 1950 and the information has not been updated for more than 60 yr. In January and June 2011, CO2 baited-light traps were used to collect 49,231 mosquitoes from four different locations, Paraa (9,487), Chobe (20,025), Sunguru (759), and Rhino Camp (18,960). Overall, 72 mosquito species representing 11 genera were collected. The largest number of distinct species was collected at Chobe (43 species), followed by Paraa (40), Sunguru (34), and Rhino Camp (25). Only eight of the 72 species (11.1%) were collected from all four sites: Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti formosus (Walker), Anopheles (Cellia) funestus group, Culex (Culex) decens group, Cx. (Culex) neavei Theobald, Cx. (Culex) univittatus Theobald, Cx. (Culiciomyia) cinereus Theobald, Cx. (Oculeomyia) poicilipes (Theobald), and Mansonia (Mansonoides) uniformis (Theobald). Fifty-four species were detected in northwestern Uganda for the first time; however, these species have been detected elsewhere in Uganda and do not represent new introductions to the country. Thirty-three species collected during this study have previously been implicated in the transmission of arboviruses of public health importance. |
Modeling the environmental suitability for Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti and Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in the contiguous United States
Johnson TL , Haque U , Monaghan AJ , Eisen L , Hahn MB , Hayden MH , Savage HM , McAllister J , Mutebi JP , Eisen RJ . J Med Entomol 2017 54 (6) 1605-1614 The mosquitoes Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (L.)(Diptera:Culicidae) and Ae. (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera:Culicidae) transmit dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses and represent a growing public health threat in parts of the United States where they are established. To complement existing mosquito presence records based on discontinuous, non-systematic surveillance efforts, we developed county-scale environmental suitability maps for both species using maximum entropy modeling to fit climatic variables to county presence records from 1960-2016 in the contiguous United States. The predictive models for Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus had an overall accuracy of 0.84 and 0.85, respectively. Cumulative growing degree days (GDDs) during the winter months, an indicator of overall warmth, was the most important predictive variable for both species and was positively associated with environmental suitability. The number (percentage) of counties classified as environmentally suitable, based on models with 90 or 99% sensitivity, ranged from 1,443 (46%) to 2,209 (71%) for Ae. aegypti and from 1,726 (55%) to 2,329 (75%) for Ae. albopictus. Increasing model sensitivity results in more counties classified as suitable, at least for summer survival, from which there are no mosquito records. We anticipate that Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus will be found more commonly in counties classified as suitable based on the lower 90% sensitivity threshold compared with the higher 99% threshold. Counties predicted suitable with 90% sensitivity should therefore be a top priority for expanded mosquito surveillance efforts while still keeping in mind that Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus may be introduced, via accidental transport of eggs or immatures, and potentially proliferate during the warmest part of the year anywhere within the geographic areas delineated by the 99% sensitivity model. |
Arboviruses isolated from mosquitoes collected in Uganda, 2008-2012
Mossel EC , Crabtree MB , Mutebi JP , Lutwama JJ , Borland EM , Powers AM , Miller BR . J Med Entomol 2017 54 (5) 1403-1409 A large number of arthropod-borne viruses are endemic to East Africa. As a part of the process of undertaking a systematic characterization of the mosquito fauna of Uganda, we examined mosquitoes collected from 2008 through early 2012 for known and novel viruses. In all, 8,288 mosquito pools containing 157,554 mosquitoes were tested. Twenty-nine isolations of 11 different viruses were made from mosquitoes of nine distinct species and from pools identified only to genus Culex. Identified viruses were from family Togaviridae, alphaviruses Sindbis and Babanki viruses; family Rhabdoviridae, hapaviruses Mossuril and Kamese viruses; family Flaviviridae, flaviviruses West Nile and Usutu viruses; family Phenuiviridae, phlebovirus Arumowot virus; and family Peribunyaviridae, orthobunyaviruses Witwatersrand, Pongola, and Germiston viruses. In addition, a novel orthobunyavirus, provisionally named Mburo virus, was isolated from Coquillettidia metallica (Theobald). This is the first report of Babanki, Arumowot, and Mossuril virus isolation from Uganda. |
Updated reported distribution of Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti and Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in the United States, 1995-2016
Hahn MB , Eisen L , McAllister J , Savage HM , Mutebi JP , Eisen RJ . J Med Entomol 2017 54 (5) 1420-1424 Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (L.) and Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse) are potential vectors of Zika, dengue, and chikungunya viruses in the United States. A Zika virus outbreak in Florida in the summer of 2016, driven by Ae. aegypti and resulting in > 200 locally acquired cases of human illness, underscored the need for up-to-date information on the geographic distribution of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus in the United States. In early 2016, we conducted a survey and literature review to compile county records for presence of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus in the United States from 1995 to 2016. Surveillance for these vectors was intensified across the United States during the summer and fall of 2016. At the end of 2016, we therefore conducted a follow-up survey of mosquito control agencies, university researchers, and state and local health departments to document new collection records for Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. The repeated survey at the end of the year added Ae. aegypti collection records from 38 new counties and Ae. albopictus collection records from 127 new counties, representing a 21 and 10 percent increase, respectively, in the number of counties with reported presence of these mosquitoes compared with the previous report. Moreover, through our updated survey, 40 and 183 counties, respectively, added additional years of collection records for Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus from 1995 to 2016. Our findings underscore the continued need for systematic surveillance of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. |
Entomological investigations during early stages of a chikungunya outbreak in the United States Virgin Islands, 2014
Kenney JL , Burkhalter KL , Scott ML , McAllister J , Lang FE , Webster S , Maduro DJ , Johannes J , Liburd A , Mutebi JP . J Am Mosq Control Assoc 2017 33 (1) 8-15 During the 2014 chikungunya (CHIK) outbreak in the Caribbean, we performed entomological surveys on 3 United States Virgin Islands (USVI): St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John. We aimed to evaluate the potential for chikungunya virus (CHIKV) transmission in the USVI. The surveys took place between June 19, 2014, and June 29, 2014, during the dry season in USVI. A total of 1,929 adult mosquitoes belonging to 4 species - Culex quinquefasciatus (68.4%), Aedes aegypti (29.7%), Ae. mediovittatus (1.3%), and Ae. sollicitans (<1%) - were detected. Environmental investigations showed that between 73% and 87% of the homes had containers that could serve as mosquito larval habitats. In addition, 47% of the homes did not have air conditioning and between 69% and 79% of homes showed evidence of frequent outdoor activity exhibited by residents. Taken together, these observations suggest a high potential for CHIKV transmission in USVI. The relative abundance of Ae. aegypti on St. John's, St. Thomas, and St. Croix was 21.0, 11.0, and 3.0 mosquitoes/trap per day, respectively, suggesting that the former 2 islands were at the highest risk of CHIKV outbreaks. Insecticide resistance testing detected high levels of resistance to malathion and permethrin in several local populations of Ae. aegypti on St. Croix Island, which suggested that these 2 insecticides should not be used during CHIK outbreaks. |
Seasonal patterns in eastern equine encephalitis virus antibody in songbirds in southern Maine
Elias SP , Keenan P , Kenney JL , Morris SR , Covino KM , Robinson S , Foss KA , Rand PW , Lubelczyk C , Lacombe EH , Mutebi JP , Evers D , Smith RP Jr . Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2017 17 (5) 325-330 The intent of this study was to assess passerine eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEv) seroprevalence during the breeding season in southern Maine by testing songbird species identified in the literature as amplifying hosts of this virus. In 2013 and 2014, we collected serum samples from songbirds at a mainland site and an offshore island migratory stopover site, and screened samples for EEEv antibodies using plaque reduction neutralization tests. We compared seasonal changes in EEEv antibody seroprevalence in young (hatched in year of capture) and adult birds at the mainland site, and also compared early season seroprevalence in mainland versus offshore adult birds. EEEv seroprevalence did not differ significantly between years at either site. During the early season (May), EEEv antibody seroprevalence was substantially lower (9.6%) in the island migrant adults than in mainland adults (42.9%), 2013-2014. On the mainland, EEEv antibody seroprevalence in young birds increased from 12.9% in midseason (June-August) to 45.6% in late season (September/October), 2013-2014. Seroprevalence in adult birds did not differ between seasons (48.8% vs. 53.3%). EEEv activity in Maine has increased in the past decade as measured by increased virus detection in mosquitoes and veterinary cases. High EEEv seroprevalence in young birds-as compared to that of young birds in other studies-corresponded with two consecutive active EEEv years in Maine. We suggest that young, locally hatched songbirds be sampled as a part of long-term EEEv surveillance, and provide a list of suggested species to sample, including EEEv "superspreaders." |
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