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Q&A ViewAttendees 7

Medical, Urban, and Veterinary Entomology

10-Minute Paper

MUVE: Mosquito and Other Nematoceran Flies: Behavior and Ecology

Utilizing a zoological park for mosquito surveillance and blood feeding patterns

Tuesday, November 2, 2021
2:54 PM – 3:06 PM MT
Location: Colorado Convention Center, Meeting Room 210-212
In-Person

Zoological parks provide a unique opportunity to study mosquito biology due to the close proximity of exotic animals, free-roaming native animals, humans, and mosquito habitats are located. In addition to the importance of zoos as locations for monitoring zoonotic vector-borne infections, zoo studies can provide valuable insight into mosquito ecology and feeding patterns. 

           Therefore,  we sampled mosquitoes from June to October in 2020 in and near the Nashville zoo using four mosquito trap methods and 12 sampling locations. Mosquitoes were identified to species, Culex mosquitoes were analyzed for arboviruses, and engorged mosquitoes were preserved for host feeding analysis. We captured over 9,000 mosquitoes representing 24 different species, including a new species record for Davidson County, TN (Cx. nigripalpus).  Minimum infection rates (MIR)s for WNV, SLEV and FLAV were 0.79, 0, and 4.14, respectively. Host DNA from 62 engorged mosquitoes was matched to 18 host species, of which only four species belonged to the zoo. Wild birds, especially Northern cardinals, were the preferred host species. Northern cardinals are competent reservoirs of WNV, but further research is needed to determine the role Northern cardinals are serving in WNV transmission in the zoo.  When combined, our results demonstrate the utility of zoological parks as sentinels for both emerging pathogens, human and wildlife risk, and vector diversity.