A5049050599- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics
- Malaria Research and Control
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Vector-Borne Animal Diseases
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- Plant Virus Research Studies
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- Dengue and Mosquito Control Research
- Plant and Fungal Interactions Research
- Plant Disease Resistance and Genetics
- Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Insects and Parasite Interactions
- Leptospirosis research and findings
Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
2016-2025
Yale University
2017-2025
Cornell University
2006-2021
Experimental Station
2001-2019
University of Michigan
2017
Columbia University
2017
University of Arizona
2015
Vector (United States)
2010-2014
Vector Oncology (United States)
2010
American Mosquito Control Association
2010
ABSTRACT Since first discovered in the New York City area 1999, West Nile virus (WNV) has become established over much of continental United States and been responsible for >10,000 cases severe disease 400 human fatalities, as well thousands fatal infections horses. To develop appropriate surveillance control strategies, identification which mosquito species are competent vectors how various factors influence their ability to transmit this must be determined. Therefore, we evaluated numerous...
Abstract To evaluate the role of Culex mosquitoes as enzootic and epidemic vectors for WNV, we identified source vertebrate blood by polymerase chain reaction amplification sequencing portions cytochrome b gene mitochondrial DNA. All Cx. restuans 93% pipiens acquired from avian hosts; salinarius fed frequently on both mammals (53%) birds (36%). Mixed-blood meals were detected in 11% 4% pipiens, respectively. American robin was most common (38%) (37%). crow represented <1% none restuans....
ABSTRACT Ixodes scapularis is the principal vector of Lyme disease on East Coast and in upper Midwest regions United States, yet tick also present Southeast, where absent or rare. A closely related species, I. affinis , carries pathogen South but does not seem to transmit it humans. In order better understand geographic diversity tick, we analyzed microbiota 104 adult 13 ticks captured 19 locations Carolina, North Virginia, Connecticut, New York. Initially, from 4 sites were by 454...
West Nile (WN) virus, a mosquito-transmitted virus native to Africa, Asia, and Europe, was isolated from two species of mosquitoes, Culex pipiens Aedes vexans , brain tissues 28 American crows, Corvus brachyrhynchos one Cooper's hawk, Accipiter cooperii in Connecticut. A portion the genome isolates four different hosts sequenced analyzed by comparative phylogenetic analysis. Our Connecticut were similar another most closely related WN Romania (2.8 3.6 percent difference). If established...
Two hundred and ten isolations of West Nile virus (WNV) were obtained from 17 mosquito species in six genera statewide surveillance conducted Connecticut June through October, 1999–2003. Culex pipiens (86), salinarius (32), restuans (26), Culiseta melanura Aedes vexans (12) implicated as the most likely vectors WNV region based on isolation data. was abundant July September is involved early season enzootic transmission late epizootic amplification wild bird populations. Epidemic to humans...
The vertebrate hosts of 672 blood-engorged Culex quinquefasciatus Say, collected in Harris County, Texas, during 2005, were identified by nucleotide sequencing PCR products the cytochrome b gene. Analysis revealed that 39.1% had acquired blood from birds, 52.5% mammals, and 8.3% mixed avian mammalian meals. Most frequent dog (41.0%), mourning dove (18.3%), domestic cat (8.8%), white-winged (4.3%), house sparrow (3.2%), finch (3.0%), gray catbird American robin (2.5%). Results are interpreted...
Seasonal epizootics of vector-borne pathogens infecting multiple species are ecologically complex and difficult to forecast. Pathogen transmission potential within the host community is determined by relative abilities maintain transmit pathogen ecological factors influencing contact rates between hosts vectors. Increasing evidence strong feeding preferences a number vectors suggests that experienced may be very different from local community. We developed an empirically informed model for...
The risk of transmission West Nile virus (WNV) to humans is associated with the density infected vector mosquitoes in a given area. Current technology for estimating distribution and abundance primarily based on Centers Disease Control Prevention (CDC) light trap collections, which provide only point data. In order estimate mosquito areas not sampled by traps, we developed logistic regression models five species implicated as most likely vectors WNV Connecticut. Using data from 32 traps...
A continuous cell line, Aa23, was established from eggs of a strain the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus , naturally infected with intracellular symbiont Wolbachia pipientis . The resulting line shown to be persistently bacterial endosymbiont. Treatment antibiotics cured cells infection. In course establishing this it noticed that RFLPs in PCR products two genes parental mosquitoes were fixed line. This indicates mosquito host superinfected different strains, whereas derived these only...
Abstract Fourteen isolations of West Nile (WN) virus were obtained from four mosquito species (Culex pipiens [5], Cx. restuans [4], salinarius [2], and Culiseta melanura [3]) in statewide surveillance conducted June through October 2000. Most isolates mosquitoes collected densely populated residential locales Fairfield New Haven counties, where the highest rates dead crow sightings reported WN was detected 1999. Minimum field infection per 1,000 ranged 0.5 to 1.8 (county based) 1.3 76.9...
Since first discovered in the New York City area 1999, West Nile virus (WNV) has become established over much of continental United States and been responsible for >10,000 cases severe disease 400 human fatalities, as well thousands fatal infections horses. To develop appropriate surveillance control strategies, identification which mosquito species are competent vectors how various factors influence their ability to transmit this must be determined. Therefore, we evaluated numerous WNV...
Spirochetes were isolated from 71 subadult Ixodes dentatus removed cottontail rabbits captured in Millbrook, N.Y., and New York, N.Y. also cultured kidney tissues of six rabbits. While all isolates reacted with monoclonal antibody H9724, which identifies the spirochetes as borreliae, more than half did not bind H5332 even fewer H3TS, both produced to outer surface protein A Borrelia burgdorferi. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis profiles three differed one another...
We evaluated the blood-feeding patterns in several mosquito species that may serve as vectors of disease agents northeastern United States. Blood-fed mosquitoes were collected from 91 different sites throughout Connecticut over a 6-yr period (June-October 2002-2007), and host-feeding 23 representing six genera examined by using polymerase chain reaction-based assay sequencing portions cytochrome b gene mitochondrial DNA. This study was part statewide surveillance program for some limited...
Abstract Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) is maintained in an enzootic cycle involving Culiseta melanura mosquitoes and avian hosts. Other mosquito species that feed opportunistically on mammals have been incriminated as bridge vectors to humans horses. To evaluate the capacity of these acquire, replicate, potentially transmit EEEV, we estimated infection prevalence titers collected Connecticut, USA, by cell culture, plaque titration, quantitative reverse transcription–PCR. Cs. were...
We determined the susceptibility of Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) to fungal pathogen Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) when reared on Solanum tuberosum L., dulcamara carolinense and Lycopersicum esculentum Miller growing in both field greenhouse. With exception L. esculentum, host plant species most suitable for survival produced larvae least susceptible B. bassiana. Larvae different plants greenhouse also varied measured doses conidia laboratory. Greenhouse-grown...
We evaluated the blood-feeding patterns in several mosquito species that may serve as vectors of disease agents northeastern United States. Blood-fed mosquitoes were collected from 91 different sites throughout Connecticut over a 6-yr period (June-October 2002–2007), and host-feeding 23 representing six genera examined by using polymerase chain reaction-based assay sequencing portions cytochrome b gene mitochondrial DNA. This study was part statewide surveillance program for some limited...
Over the past decade, we have witnessed a sustained resurgence of eastern equine encephalitis virus activity within long-standing foci in northeastern United States and northward expansion into regions where was historically rare or previously unknown.
The earliest documented specimen of an exotic east Asian mosquito Ochlerotatus (Finlaya) japonicus (Theobald) in the Western Hemisphere is reported along with results a state wide survey to determine distribution and abundance this Connecticut. was collected from 87 locations eight counties. It established throughout occurs variety natural artificial container habitats including discarded tire casings, bird baths, wooden barrels, porcelain bath tubs (used for watering animals), plastic milk...
Introduction of potential disease vectors into a new geographic area poses health risks to local human, livestock, and wildlife populations. It is therefore important gain understanding the dynamics these invasions, in particular its sources, modes spread after introduction, vectorial potential. We studied population genetics Aedes (Finlaya) japonicus (Theobald), an Asian mosquito that was recognized for first time United States 1998. examined patterns genetic diversity using random...
Ultrastructural characteristics of 15 strains and isolates ehrlichiae belonging to three genogroups, or clades genetically related organisms united in the genera Ehrlichia, Cowdria, Anaplasma, Neorickettsia a strain Wolbachia pipientis which represents fourth genogroup this cluster species, were studied continuous cell culture vivo: E. canis (Oklahoma VHE isolate), muris (AS 145), chaffeensis (Arkansas, 91HE17 Sapulpa), human granulocytic (HGE)(BDS, 96HE27, 96HE37, #54, #55 #72), equi (MRK),...
ABSTRACT West Nile virus was recovered from the brain of a red-tailed hawk that died in Westchester County, N.Y., February 2000. Multiple foci glial cells, lymphocytes, and few pyknotic nuclei were observed brain. Three to 4 days after inoculation Vero cells with homogenates, cytopathic changes detected. The presence antigen fixed or cell lysates revealed by fluorescent antibody testing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Furthermore, Reverse transcriptase-PCR primers specific...