Last of the Mosquitoes Announcements Speaking Today??? On Deck for Next Tuesday: Sean Allen, Lauren Torbett About the Quiz … Read Chapter 16 for next Tuesday, Chapter 17 for next Thursday
Yellow Fever Historically second only to malaria but now lags dengue. Potential for catastrophic outbreaks persists. Like Dengue, a Flavivirus Called “Yellow Fever” because of the jaundice that it often creates First arbovirus (arthropod borne virus) associated with human disease. Carlos Finlay, Cuban physician, first suggested the connection between mosquitoes and yellow fever Walter Reed conducted human experiments with US soldier volunteers to confirm the connection. Reed’s discovery enabled the US to complete the Panama Canal where the French could not.
Principal Endemic Zones Note: Yellow fever has never been reported in Asia
Population here will double between 2009 & 2020
Three cycles Endemic (Sylvatic) Intermediate Epidemic (Urban) Cycles in arboreal monkeys Mosquitoes are not common ground level Loggers encounter infected mosquitoes Transmission: monkey – mosquito – human is one way Produces sporadic cases Intermediate Monkey – human and back Mostly African savannah Most common form of outbreak in Africa Epidemic (Urban) Loggers enter a town with container breeding mosquitoes (esp. Ae. aegypti) Mosquitoes acquire the virus human – mosquito – human cycle established.
Symptoms Increasing Viremia 3 – 6 days post-infection Initial flue-like symptoms: fever and chills, severe headache, back pain, general muscle aches, nausea, fatigue, and weakness 1-2 day remission “Toxic phase”- flu-like symptoms return, with abdominal pain (from hepatic involvement). Hepatic coagulopathy produces jaundice and numerous hemorrhagic symptoms: Hematemesis (black vomit) Epistaxis (nose bleed) Gum bleeding Petechial and purpuric hemorrhages (bruising). Late stage (“malignant”) hypotension, shock, metabolic acidosis, acute tubular necrosis, myocardial dysfunction, and cardiac arrhythmia. Terminal stage - Confusion, seizures, coma, death from cardiac failure Survivors of the hepatic phase often have secondary bacterial infections and kidney failure. Weakness/fatigue may last months in survivors.
Encephalitis Encephalitis – an acute inflammation of the brain Encephalomyelitis - When both the brain and spinal cord are involved Encephalomyelitis often follows viral encephalitis and so is often referred to as “post-infection encephalitis” Separate from but may occur with meningitis Can be either bacterial (including protozooan) or viral Among the viral forms, arboviruses are the most common (other common forms are HIV secondary, rabies, herpes simplex)
Arboviral Encephalitis Most arboviruses can cause encephalitis All important mosquito viruses can cause encephalitis Only some of these have encephalitis as a primary symptom Survivors of the initial encephalitis proceed to encephalomyelitis hence the name for the mosquito viruses.
Mosquito Encephalomyelitis Viruses in North America Togoviridae (all Alphaviruses) – Bird viruses EEE (most pathogenic to humans) WEE VEE Flaviviridae (JE complex) – Bird viruses West Nile SLE Bunyaviridae – Chipmunk/Squirrel viruses LaCrosse
MOSQUITO SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMS Used for Anticipated Health Threats Mosquito surveillance programs detect: When each species is present When each life stage is present Disease risk Conducted by public health agencies May be combined with disease surveillance programs
Two kinds of surveillance Mosquito population monitoring Eggs Larvae Adults Impact Assessment Disease risk Economic impact Most economic assessments are veterinary
Population Monitoring: Eggs Oviposition Traps (see example) For container breeders Sod/Soil/Debris Sampling Requires a means of separating eggs from sample (see machine on right) Gravid Traps (see example) Culex/Coquillettidia egg rafts can usually be found
Larval Sampling – Main sampling tool is the larval dipper Important note: This tool does NOT indicate absolute populations as commonly used but is a relative measure. Typically used for presence/absence sampling.
Different techniques are used with different habitats/species Shallow Skim- Anopheles Partial submersion- Around emergent vegetation, Complete submersion- For quick diving species such as some Aedes and Psorophora, Dipper as a background- woodland pools, for early season species. "Flow in" method- Shallow water with debris. Scraping- Sampling from submerged clumps of vegetation. Simple scoop- Most common, especially for Culex. Salt marsh- Standard Protocol for potholes with vegetation.
Sampling Adults Males – Not interested in them Blood questing females – Light/CO2 traps Gravid females – Gravid traps General – Resting Boxes (Culeseta & Anopheles) Non-attraction traps – sample at random
CDC - Light/CO2 Baited Trap Can use gas, dry ice, or chemical sachet Generally overnight May be used with light Some differentiate by time
Other Traps for Blood Questers Mosquito magnet used as a sampling tool Sonic trap mimics the sound of a dog’s heartbeat
Gravid Traps Generally left overnight The type of water affects trap catch Very susceptible to rainfall May also find eggs on/near water
Impact Assessment Biting Rate Disease Risk Human Bait Animal Bait Prevalence in Mosquito Population Prevalence in Host Population
Human Landing/Biting Rate Fixed time interval Sample at same time of day Standardized human Widely restricted
Sentinel Animals More commonly used as an early warning for disease risk
Landing Rates & Impact Human Nuisance – Must know two things: Number of bites people are willing to tolerate Bite rate that results in action Disease risk – Must know the proportion of bites that result in new infections
Final Thoughts on Mosquito Population Sampling All commonly used methods are relative – None give absolute estimates. Different species are sampled at different rates for each technique. Generally, must pre-define which species in the mosquito complex is the target of a sampling program then select the appropriate technique(s).
Determining Disease Prevalence in Mosquito Populations Sort into pools
Many diseases have simple strip tests available (tend to be around 70% accurate, but their cheap & easy).
This one costs $60 & does 20 tests
More accurate and sophisticated techniques are available Most are based on an amplification procedure. Such procedures require facilities with appropriate containment as well as specialized equipment & training. Cost prohibitive in many management programs (typically $20 – 25/test).