Evaluation of the CDC autocidal gravid ovitrap for the surveillance of La Crosse virus vectors

WCU Author/Contributor (non-WCU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Monica Lee Henry (Creator)
Institution
Western Carolina University (WCU )
Web Site: http://library.wcu.edu/
Advisor
Maria Gainey

Abstract: La Crosse virus (LACv) is the most common cause of pediatric arboviral infection in North America and is endemic in western North Carolina. The virus is primarily vectored by Aedes triseriatus although two invasive species (Ae. albopictus and Ae. japonicus)may be important accessory LACv vectors in the Appalachian region. Trap based methods for the surveillance and control of LACv vectors remain inadequate. Thus, the evaluation of novel collection methods remains a public health priority. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) autocidal gravid ovitrap (AGO) is a novel trapused for the surveillance and control of Ae. aegypti. This report is the first evaluation of the CDC AGO within the context of surveillance for LACv vectors. In Aim 1, CDC AGOs(n=36) were deployed in a randomized complete block design for five weeks. The mean yield of LACv vectors was 0.86 mosquitoes per trap per day, and the CDC AGO was highly specific for the three targeted LACv vectors (98.7%). Furthermore, the standard CDC AGO oviposition attractant, a hay infusion, was compared with a White Oak leaf infusion. There was no significant difference in the total number of mosquitoes collected overall by infusion type. However, the data suggest that the hay infusion is more effective for trapping Ae. triseriatus than the White Oak leaf infusion.Gaining insight into the dynamic microbial communities of infusion-baited CDCAGOs in hopes of optimizing the infusions for mosquito surveillance, thus reducing public health risk of La Crosse Encephalitis (LACE) was the foundation of Aim 2. In Aim2, microbial community metabolic profiles of the standard CDC AGO hay infusion and a White Oak leaf infusion were analyzed using Biolog EcoPlates. Principal components analyses revealed distinct separation of infusion types and exposed consistent temporal and spatial trends.In Aim 3, CDC AGOs (n=25) were deployed in a LACE endemic area to determine the practicability of the traps and if they reduced the proportion of gravid mosquitoes. The traps produced a mean yield of 2.28 mosquitoes per trap per week, a higher trap abundance than found in Aim 1, which is a foundation for future LACv surveillance. There were no statistically significant differences in the proportions of gravid mosquitoes.

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Additional Information

Publication
Thesis
Language: English
Date: 2016
Subjects
Mosquitoes as carriers of disease -- Appalachian Region, Southern
Mosquitoes -- Control -- Appalachian Region, Southern
Encephalitis -- Appalachian Region, Southern -- Prevention
Arbovirus infections -- Appalachian Region, Southern -- Prevention