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<OL> <LI> To monitor the occurrence of mosquito-borne diseases in Alabama, identify vector species involved, and better understand ecological factors affecting transmission of disease agents.<LI>To investigate tick-related problems in Alabama, identify taxa involved in transmission of tick-borne disease agents, and better understand ecological factors affecting such transmission. <LI>To respond to other arthropod-related problems of public-health and veterinary importance as circumstances and funding permit.
NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: A. Mosquito-borne viruses pose a human health risk. B. More effective ovipostion attractants are needed to collect mosquitoes for arbovirus surveillance. A. The purpose is to determine status of tire-breeding mosquitoes in Alabama. B. This project will document the occurrence of tick-borne diseases in Alabama and risk of human exposure.
<P>APPROACH: Objective 1. (A) A state-wide surveillance program for mosquito-borne arboviruses in Alabama will be conducted, with the emphasis on the encephalomyelitis viruses causing West Nile encephalitis, eastern equine encephalitis, LaCrosse encephalitis, and St. Louis encephalitis. Collections will be made using New Jersey-style light traps, CDC miniature light traps, and gravid traps to monitor sites throughout the mosquito season. Mosquitoes will be identified to species and assayed for the above three viruses, using commercially available test kits. (B) Gravid traps will be evaluated using plant infusions as attractants for ovipositing female mosquitoes. These infusions will include hay, and several species of emergent plants that commonly occur in mosquito breeding sites (e.g., rushes, sedges, cattails). Other infusion mixtures in gravid traps will be evaluated for capturing Aedes and Ochlerotatus species. (C) A state-wide larval survey of tire-breeding mosquitoes will be conducted to determine the occurrence and geographic distribution of these mosquitoes in Alabama. Sampling of tires will be conducted over a two-year period, recording the occurrence of each species at bi-weekly or monthly intervals at select tire-disposal sites in each county. Objective 2. (A) Collections of ticks from humans and domestic animals will be recorded as part of an ongoing effort to document the species and seasonal occurrence of ticks of public health or veterinary importance in Alabama. These date will provide useful information relating to potential risks of exposure to tick-borne pathogens in the state. (B) In cooperation with the Alabama Department of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology, we will assist in collecting ticks in locales where human cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease and other tick-borne borrelioses are reported. (C) Reports of impaired, dying, or dead birds with associated tick paralysis will be investigated, adding to our growing database on the occurrence of tick paralysis in birds in Alabama. Objective 3. Data will also be collected on other groups of arthropods in Alabama: (A) Spiders: Of particular interest are the brown recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa) and three species of widow spiders (Latrodectus maculatus, L. geometricus, L. variolus). (B) Bed bugs: Extension, health, and pest-control personnel will be encouraged to submit samples of any bed bug specimens they may encounter, for species confirmation to distinguish them from other cimicid species that occur in Alabama (e.g.,Cimex pilosus).