Wetland characteristics linked to broad-scale patterns in Culiseta melanura abundance and eastern equine encephalitis virus infection.
Abstract: Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) is an expanding mosquito-borne threat to humans and domestic animal populations in the northeastern United States. Outbreaks of EEEV are challenging to predict due to spatial and temporal uncertainty in the abundance and viral infection of Cs. melanura, the principal enzootic vector. EEEV activity may be closely linked to wetlands because they provide essential habitat for mosquito vectors and avian reservoir hosts. However, wetlands are not homogeneous and can vary by vegetation, connectivity, size, and inundation patterns. Wetlands may also have different effects on EEEV transmission depending on the assessed spatial scale. We investigated associations between wetland characteristics and Cs. melanura abundance and infection with EEEV at multiple spatial scales in Connecticut, USA. Results: Our findings indicate that wetland vegetative characteristics have strong associations with Cs. melanura abundance. Deciduous and evergreen forested wetlands were associated with higher Cs. melanura abundance, likely because these wetlands provide suitable subterranean habitat for Cs. melanura development. In contrast, Cs. melanura abundance was negatively associated with emergent and scrub/shrub wetlands, and wetland connectivity to streams. These relationships were generally strongest at broad spatial scales. Additionally, the relationships between wetland characteristics and EEEV infection in Cs. melanura were generally weak. However, Cs. melanura abundance was strongly associated with EEEV infection, suggesting that wetland-associated changes in abundance may be indirectly linked to EEEV infection in Cs. melanura. Finally, we found that wet hydrological conditions during the transmission season and during the fall/winter preceding the transmission season were associated with higher Cs. melanura abundance and EEEV infection, indicating that wet conditions are favorable for EEEV transmission. Conclusions: These results expand the broad-scale understanding of the effects of wetlands on EEEV transmission and help to reduce the spatial and temporal uncertainty associated with EEEV outbreaks.
Publication Date: 2017-10-18 PubMed ID: 29047412PubMed Central: PMC5648514DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2482-0Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Animal Health
- Animal Models
- Disease Etiology
- Disease Outbreaks
- Disease Prevention
- Disease Surveillance
- Disease Transmission
- Eastern Equine Encephalitis
- Ecology
- Environmental Stressors
- Epidemiology
- Equine Diseases
- Mosquito-borne Diseases
- Public Health
- Vector-borne disease
- Veterinary Research
- Veterinary Science
- Virus
- Wildlife
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This study explores the relationship between the characteristics of wetlands and the abundance and infection rates of the Culiseta melanura mosquito, the primary carrier of the eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) in Connecticut, USA. The research found that certain wetland features are associated with an increased presence of the mosquito and the virus it carries.
Wetland Characteristics and Mosquito Abundance
- The research found a strong correlation between the type of vegetation in wetlands and the abundance of Culiseta melanura mosquitoes. Deciduous and evergreen forested wetlands were associated with a higher presence of the mosquitoes. The probable reason for this relation is that such wetlands offer suitable underground habitats for these mosquitoes’ development.
- Conversely, the presence of mosquitoes was negatively correlated with the occurrence of emergent and scrub/shrub wetlands, and wetlands connected to streams. These correlations were more pronounced at broader spatial scales.
Wetland Characteristics and Virus Infection Rates
- Relationships between wetland characteristics and EEEV infection rates in Culiseta melanura mosquitoes were generally weak.
- However, mosquito abundance was strongly associated with EEEV infection. This finding suggests that changes in mosquito population due to wetland characteristics might be indirectly linked to EEEV infection rates in Culiseta melanura mosquitoes.
Weather Conditions and EEEV Transmission
- The research also found that the hydrological conditions, specifically wet conditions, during the transmission season and the preceding fall/winter season were associated with higher mosquito abundance and EEEV infection rates. It seems that wet conditions encourage the transmission of EEEV.
Conclusion and Implications
- The study suggests that managing the characteristics of wetlands, in particular their vegetation type, could potentially impact the population of Culiseta melanura mosquitoes and the spread of EEEV. This research helps improve broad-scale understanding of how wetlands influence EEEV transmission and could aid in minimizing the uncertainty around predicting EEEV outbreaks.
Cite This Article
APA
Skaff NK, Armstrong PM, Andreadis TG, Cheruvelil KS.
(2017).
Wetland characteristics linked to broad-scale patterns in Culiseta melanura abundance and eastern equine encephalitis virus infection.
Parasit Vectors, 10(1), 501.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-017-2482-0 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA. skaffnic@msu.edu.
- Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA. skaffnic@msu.edu.
- Department of Environmental Sciences, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Department of Environmental Sciences, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
- Lyman Briggs College, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Birds
- Culicidae / virology
- Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
- Ecosystem
- Encephalitis Virus, Eastern Equine / isolation & purification
- Encephalitis Virus, Eastern Equine / physiology
- Encephalomyelitis, Eastern Equine / epidemiology
- Encephalomyelitis, Eastern Equine / transmission
- Encephalomyelitis, Eastern Equine / veterinary
- Encephalomyelitis, Eastern Equine / virology
- Female
- Horses
- Insect Vectors / virology
- New England
- Seasons
Conflict of Interest Statement
ETHICS APPROVAL AND CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE: Not applicable. CONSENT FOR PUBLICATION: Not applicable. COMPETING INTERESTS: The authors declare that they have no competing interests. PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
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