Species-specific drivers of West Nile virus transmission in urban environments Public
McMillan, Joseph (Summer 2018)
Published
Abstract
Heterogeneity, specifically biological variation, is an inherent component of pathogen transmission systems. Transmission variability arises due to differences in an individual’s ability to acquire and transmit a pathogen (i.e. pathogen competence) and the probability infected individuals encounters susceptible individuals. For vector-borne pathogens, competence varies among host and vector species, and the composition of host and vector communities strongly influences the rate at which pathogens are transmitted among individuals. Because species community composition varies across the spatiotemporal landscape, species-specific drivers of transmission can vary from region to region.
The objective of my dissertation is to quantify vector and host species-level transmission heterogeneities and then link these dynamics across species using West Nile virus (WNv) as a model system. West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne, zoonotic pathogen that is transmitted by mosquito vectors in the Culex genus among birds. I specifically use a combination of experimental, field surveillance, and modeling approaches to quantify connections in WNv transmission by two Culex spp., Culex restuans and Culex quinquefasciatus, and the diverse bird species communities upon which these two vectors feed. In Chapter 1, I use field surveillance of WNv in Atlanta, GA coupled with modeling techniques to show that climate and the availability of susceptible hosts mediate the likelihood that Cx. restuans and Cx. quinquefasciatus are efficient vectors of WNv. In Chapter 2, I use long term sero-surveys of wild birds in Chicago, IL and Atlanta, GA to quantify the variability of WNv incidence across sampled species. In Chapter 3, I extend results from Chapter 2 and use blood feeding experiments to show that the feeding behaviors of Cx. quinquefasciatus are a function of the availability of certain host species. Finally, in Chapter 4 I use an applied approach to show that targeted larvicide applications in road-side catch basins are insufficient to control WNv at local scales. All though each chapter addresses an important component of heterogeneity in the WNv transmission system, further research is needed to determine the extent to which the intensity of WNv transmission in the enzootic cycle translates to the risk of human WNv-incidence.
Table of Contents
Introduction 1-7
References 8-15
Chapter 1 16-51 Introduction 16-18
Materials and Methods 19-24
Results 24-27
Discussion 28-31
References 32-36
Tables and Figures 37-43
Table 1 37
Table 2 38
Table 3 39
Figure Legends 40
Figure 1 41
Figure 2 42
Figure 3 43
Supplemental Materials 44-51
S. Table 1 44
S. Table 2 45
S. Table 3 46
S. Figure Legends 47
S. Figure 1 48
S. Figure 2 49
S. Figure 3 50
S. Figure 4 51
Chapter 2 52-102
Introduction 52-54 Materials and Methods 54-58
Results 58-61
Discussion 61-66
References 67-74
Tables and Figures 75-84
Table 1 75
Table 2 76
Figure Legends 77-78
Figure 1 79
Figure 2 80
Figure 3 81
Figure 4 82
Figure 5 83
Figure 6 84
Supplemental Materials 85-102
S. List 1 85-87
S. Table 1 88
S. Table 2 89
S. Table 3 90
S. Table 4 91
S. Figure Legends 92-93
S. Figure 1 94
S. Figure 2 95
S. Figure 3 96
S. Figure 4 97
S. Figure 5 98
S. Figure 6 99
S. Figure 7 100
S. Figure 8 101
S. Figure 9 102
Chapter 3 103-127
Introduction 103-105
Materials and Methods 105-110
Results 111-112
Discussion 112-115
References 116-120
Tables and Figures 121-127
Table 1 121
Figure Legends 122-123
Figure 1 124
Figure 2 125
Figure 3 126
Figure 4 127
Chapter 4 128-152
Introduction 128-129
Materials and Methods 130-134
Results 134-136
Discussion 136-139
References 140-144
Tables and Figures 145-152
Table 1 145
Table 2 146
Table 3 147
Table 4 148
Figure Legends 149
Figure 1 150
Figure 2 151
Figure 3 152
Conclusions 153-157
References 158-160
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