A5033545407- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Vector-Borne Animal Diseases
- Malaria Research and Control
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Trypanosoma species research and implications
- Parasites and Host Interactions
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- Plant Virus Research Studies
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Wildlife Conservation and Criminology Analyses
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Lysosomal Storage Disorders Research
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts
- Virology and Viral Diseases
- Parasitic Diseases Research and Treatment
Virginia Tech
2019-2025
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
2023
University of San Carlos of Guatemala
2022
University of Tennessee at Knoxville
2018-2021
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
2015-2020
Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
2019-2020
University of Leeds
2009-2018
Zoological Society of London
2009-2018
New York State Department of Health
2016-2018
Charles Darwin Foundation
2018
Viruses of the family Flaviviridae are important pathogens humans and other animals currently classified into four genera. To better understand their diversity, evolutionary history, genomic flexibility, we used transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) to search for viruses related in a range potential invertebrate vertebrate hosts. Accordingly, recovered full genomes five segmented jingmenviruses 12 distant relatives known ("flavi-like" viruses) from arthropod species. Although these highly...
Haemaphysalis longicornis (Neumann, 1901) (Acari: Ixodidae), the Asian longhorned tick, is an invasive tick species present in USA since at least 2017 and has been detected one-third of Virginia counties. While this associated with transmission multiple pathogens its native geographical range eastern Asia, little known about ability to acquire transmit USA, specifically those that are transmissible humans, although from animal health perspective, it already shown vector Theileria orientalis...
Wildlife on isolated oceanic islands is highly susceptible to the introduction of pathogens. The recent establishment in Galápagos Islands mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus , a vector for diseases such as avian malaria and West Nile fever, considered serious risk factor archipelago's endemic fauna. Here we present evidence from monitoring aeroplanes genetic analysis that C. regularly introduced via aircraft into Archipelago. Genetic population structure admixture demonstrates these mosquitoes...
Abstract The Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis (IDH) is well-known in ecology providing an explanation for the role of disturbance coexistence climax and colonist species. Here, we used IDH as a framework to describe forest shaping mosquito community structure, identify ecological processes that increase emergence vector-borne disease. Mosquitoes were collected central Panama at immature stages along linear transects colonising, mixed habitats, representing different levels disturbance....
Rift Valley fever (RVF), a mosquito-borne transboundary zoonosis, was first confirmed in Rwanda's livestock 2012 and since then sporadic cases have been reported almost every year. In 2018, the country experienced its large outbreak, which followed by second one 2022. To determine circulating virus lineages their ancestral origin, two genome sequences from 2018 thirty-six, forty-one, thirty-eight of small (S), medium (M), (L) segments, respectively, 2022 outbreak were generated. All samples...
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an emerging mosquito-borne arbovirus of One Health importance that caused two large outbreaks in Rwanda 2018 and 2022. Information on vector species with a role RVFV eco-epidemiology scarce. Here we sought to identify potential mosquito vectors Rwanda, their distribution abundance, as well infection status. Since outbreak RVF occurred during the study period, data were obtained both interepidemic period 2022 outbreak. Five districts eastern province...
Tick-borne pathogen infections are an increasing occurrence globally, yet many aspects of maintenance and host-tick interactions remain poorly understood. Here we consider the potential role eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus) in enzootic cycles tick-borne pathogens medical importance Virginia. Over a 3-year period, ticks blood were collected from rabbits acquired through passive surveillance 21 counties Seven hundred seventy 90 121 examined this study. Tick species included...
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a globally emerging pathogen causing debilitating arthralgia and fever in humans. First identified Tanzania (1953), this mosquito-borne alphavirus received little further attention until 2004 re-emergence Kenya from an unknown source. This outbreak subsequently spread to the Indian Ocean, with adaptation for transmission by new urban vector. Under hypothesis that sylvatic progenitor cycles of CHIKV exist (as reported West Africa, between non-human primates (NHPs)...
The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) is an important vector of a number arboviruses, including Zika (ZIKV), dengue (DENV), and chikungunya (CHIKV) viruses, has recently expanded its range in the eastern United States to southern New England York. Given recent establishment proliferation Ae. albopictus this region increasing amount international travel between endemic countries, there need elucidate public health risk posed by species Northeast. Accordingly, we evaluated competence...
Aedes albopictus is a vector of arboviruses with high rates morbidity and mortality. The northern limit Ae. in the northeastern United States runs through New York state (NYS) Connecticut. We present landscape-level analysis mosquito abundance measured by daily counts from 338 trap sites 12 counties during May-September 2017. During study period, mean number caught per day trapping across all was 3.21. constructed four sets negative binomial generalized linear models to evaluate how...
Emerging tick-borne viruses such as Powassan virus (POWV), Bourbon (BRBV), and Heartland (HRTV), whilst rare, can cause severe health problems in humans. While limited clinical cases have been reported thus far Virginia, the presence of poses a serious threat, extent their prevalence Virginia is unknown. Here, we sought evidence POWV, BRBV, HRTV exposure via serological assessment wildlife livestock. Wildlife were found to be seropositive against POWV (18%), BRBV (8%), (5%), with western...
The mosquito-transmitted pathogen West Nile virus (WNV) is not yet present in the Galápagos Archipelago of Ecuador. However, concern exists for fragile endemic island fauna after population decreases several North American bird species and pathology certain reptiles. We examined WNV vector competency a strain mosquito ( Culex quinquefasciatus Say). Field specimens were tested their capacity to transmit WN02-1956 incubation at 27°C or 30°C. Rates infection, dissemination, transmission all...
The Rhabdoviridae is a diverse family of negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses, many which infect vertebrate hosts and are transmitted by hematophagous arthropods. Others appear to be arthropod specific, circulating only within populations. Herein, we report the isolation characterization three novel viruses from mosquitoes collected Americas. Coot Bay virus was isolated Anopheles quadrimaculatus in Everglades National Park, Florida; Rio Chico triannulatus Panama; Balsa two pools Culex...
Abstract Over the past decade, Haemaphysalis longicornis, Asian longhorned tick, has undergone a geographic range expansion in United States, from its historical east Asia. This tick been characterized by frequent parasitism of livestock, an ability to reproduce through parthenogenesis, and transmit variety vector-borne pathogens wildlife, human hosts native range. Thus far 17 states have reported H. longicornis populations, including 38 counties Virginia. These numbers come presence-absence...
African animal trypanosomiasis (AAT) affects livestock productivity in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to determine cattle AAT's prevalence and associated risk factors Lambwe Valley, Kenya.In a cross-sectional survey, owners were recruited from four villages of Homa Bay, Kenya. Blood samples collected the jugular veins cattle, buffy coat smears examined under microscope. Parasites further detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Using semistructured questionnaire, interviewed on...
Four of the nine sigmodontine tribes have species that serve as reservoirs rodent-borne hantaviruses (RBO-HV), few been studied in any depth. Several viruses associated with human cases hantavirus pulmonary syndrome often through peridomestic exposure. Jabora (JABV) and Juquitiba (JUQV), harbored by Akodon montensis Oligoryzomys nigripes, respectively, are endemic sympatric Reserva Natural de Bosque Mbaracayú (RNBM), Paraguay, a protected area Interior Atlantic Forest. Rodent communities...
Increased connectivity with the mainland has led to arrival of many invasive species Galápagos Islands, including novel pathogens, threatening archipelago's unique fauna. Here we consider potential role mosquito Aedes taeniorhynchus in maintaining flavivirus West Nile virus [WNV] should it reach islands. We report on three components vectorial capacity - vector competency, distributional abundance and host-feeding. In contrast USA strains, A. is a competent efficient WNV vector, capable...
Abstract Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae) , an important vector of West Nile virus (WNV) in the U.S.A., was first detected on Galápagos Islands (Ecuador) 1980s. However, little is known its ecology, distribution or capacity for arbovirus transmission Galápagos. We characterize details lifecycle (including gonotrophic period), temporal abundance, spatial distribution, competence and host‐feeding behaviour. five islands during 2006–2011. A period 7–14 days required egg–adult...
Landscape changes occurring in Panama, a country whose geographic location and climate have historically supported arbovirus transmission, prompted the hypothesis that prevalence increases with degradation of tropical forest habitats. Investigations at four variably degraded sites revealed diverse array potential mosquito vectors, several which are known vectors pathogens. Overall, 675 pools consisting 25,787 mosquitoes representing 29 species from nine genera (collected ground canopy height...
Surveillance for diurnal container-inhabiting mosquitoes such as Aedes albopictus (Skuse), japonicus (Theobald), and triseriatus (Say) have routinely relied on the deployment of multiple trap types, including CO2-baited light traps, gravid oviposition BG-Sentinel. These configurations met with varying degrees effectiveness in many instances likely under-sample these key mosquito vectors. Most recently, BG-Sentinel used conjunction human-scent lure has been largely accepted gold-standard...
Abstract Background La Crosse virus (LACV) (genus Orthobunyavirus , family Peribunyaviridae ) is a mosquito-borne that causes pediatric encephalitis and accounts for 50–150 human cases annually in the USA. Human occur primarily Midwest Appalachian regions whereas documented very rarely northeastern Methods Following detection of LACV isolate from field-collected mosquito Connecticut during 2005, we evaluated prevalence infection local populations genetically characterized isolates to...
Wild birds serve as amplifying hosts for many arboviruses, and are thought to be responsible introducing these viruses into new areas during migration well reintroducing them places where winter temperatures disrupt mosquito-borne transmission. To learn more about four arboviruses of concern human or animal health, we tested sera from 997 wild 54 species 17 families across 44 states the United States collected January 1, 2013, through September 30, 2013. Samples were antibody against eastern...