Human Blood Feeding by Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Florida Keys and a Review of the Literature

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 1640-1647
Author(s):  
Catherine A Pruszynski ◽  
Tanise Stenn ◽  
Carolina Acevedo ◽  
Andrea L Leal ◽  
Nathan D Burkett-Cadena

Abstract Aedes aegypti L. is considered to have a proclivity for feeding on human blood even when other hosts are available. However, few studies have demonstrated host use by this mosquito in the continental United States, where local transmission of dengue, Zika, and chikungunya viruses has been recently documented. This study investigated the bloodmeal sources of female Ae. aegypti in the subtropical city of Key West and the surrounding county in Florida with the goal of identifying preferred hosts. Blood-engorged Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were collected from BG Sentinel traps used as part of a routine surveillance program in the Florida Keys (Monroe County, Florida). Bloodmeal samples were analyzed using PCR assays, sequencing, and comparison with reference sequences in GenBank. Aedes aegypti females from Key West fed predominantly on humans (79.6%) and did not differ statistically from females collected from the rest of the Florida Keys (69.5%). Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae), considered a host generalist, was collected and analyzed from the same sites for comparative purposes. Females of Cx. quinquefasciatus fed predominantly (70.7%) on birds and nonhuman mammals in the Florida Keys, corroborating the validity of molecular assay breadth and demonstrating that given the same group of available hosts Ae. aegypti selects humans. Our results indicated that Ae. aegypti has a high rate of human-biting in a subtropical area within the United States, supporting its role in recent local transmission of dengue and other viruses.

Author(s):  
Rebecca A Zimler ◽  
Donald A Yee ◽  
Barry W Alto

Abstract Recurrence of local transmission of Zika virus in Puerto Rico is a major public health risk to the United States, where mosquitoes Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) and Aedes mediovittatus (Coquillett) are abundant. To determine the extent to which Ae. mediovittatus are capable of transmitting Zika virus and the influence of viremia, we evaluated infection and transmission in Ae. mediovittatus and Ae. aegypti from Puerto Rico using serial dilutions of infectious blood. Higher doses of infectious blood resulted in greater infection rates in both mosquitoes. Aedes aegypti females were up to twice as susceptible to infection than Ae. mediovittatus, indicating a more effective midgut infection barrier in the latter mosquito species. Aedes aegypti exhibited higher disseminated infection (40–95%) than Ae. mediovittatus (<5%), suggesting a substantial midgut escape barrier in Ae. mediovittatus. For Ae. aegypti, transmission rates were low over a range of doses of Zika virus ingested, suggesting substantial salivary gland barriers.


2012 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 341-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
ETHEL V. TAYLOR ◽  
KRISTIN G. HOLT ◽  
BARBARA E. MAHON ◽  
TRACY AYERS ◽  
DAWN NORTON ◽  
...  

Infection resulting from foodborne pathogens, including Escherichia coli O157:H7, is often associated with consumption of raw or undercooked ground beef. However, little is known about the frequency of ground beef consumption in the general population. The objective of this study was to describe patterns of self-reported ground beef and pink ground beef consumption using data from the 2006 through 2007 FoodNet Population Survey. From 1 July 2006 until 30 June 2007, residents of 10 FoodNet sites were contacted by telephone and asked about foods consumed within the previous week. The survey included questions regarding consumption of ground beef patties both inside and outside the home, the consumption of pink ground beef patties and other types of ground beef inside the home, and consumption of ground beef outside the home. Of 8,543 survey respondents, 75.3% reported consuming some type of ground beef in the home. Of respondents who ate ground beef patties in the home, 18.0% reported consuming pink ground beef. Consumption of ground beef was reported most frequently among men, persons with incomes from $40,000 to $75,000 per year, and persons with a high school or college education. Ground beef consumption was least often reported in adults ≥65 years of age. Men and persons with a graduate level education most commonly reported eating pink ground beef in the home. Reported consumption of ground beef and pink ground beef did not differ by season. Ground beef is a frequently consumed food item in the United States, and rates of consumption of pink ground beef have changed little since previous studies. The high rate of consumption of beef that has not been cooked sufficiently to kill pathogens makes pasteurization of ground beef an important consideration, especially for those individuals at high risk of complications from foodborne illnesses such as hemolytic uremic syndrome.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-23
Author(s):  
M. Jahidul Islam ◽  
M. Shahadat Hossain ◽  
M. Ruhul Amin ◽  
Monzur Ahmed

Osteoarthritis (OA) is no longer considered ‘degenerative’ or ‘wear and tear’ arthritis; rather involves dynamic biomechanical, biochemical and cellular process. Indeed, the joint damage that occurs in OA is the result of active remodeling involving all the joint structures. Although articular cartilage is at the center of change, OA is viewed as a disease of the entire joint. Traditionally, OA has been viewed as an inevitable degenerative condition of the cartilage. It is currently viewed as a biomechanical and biochemical inflammatory disease of the entire joints. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis. Its high prevalence, especially in the elderly, and the high rate of disability related to disease make it a leading cause of disability in the elderly. Because of the aging of Western populations and because obesity, a major risk factor, are increasing in prevalence, the occurrence of osteoarthritis is on the rise. In the United States, osteoarthritis prevalence will increase from 66–100% by the year 2020. OA affects certain joints, yet spares others. Commonly affected joints include the cervical and lumbosacral spine, hip, knee, and first metatarsal phalangeal joint (MTP). In the hands, the distal and proximal inter-phalangeal joints and the base of the thumb are often affected. Usually spared are the wrist, elbow, and ankle.Journal of Current and Advance Medical Research 2015;2(1):18-23DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jcamr.v2i1.22584


2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 271-279
Author(s):  
Heidi L. Murray ◽  
Catherine A. Pruszynski ◽  
Lawrence J. Hribar

ABSTRACT Since 2011, the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District (FKMCD) has used the WALS® application strategy with VectoBac® WDG containing Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis via helicopter in Key West for the control of Aedes aegypti larval populations. In 2018, FKMCD conducted a study to determine the effectiveness of using a trailer-mounted A1 Super Duty Mist Sprayer® (A1 Mist Sprayers) with a Micronair® AU5000 (Micron Group) atomizer to apply VectoBac WDG by ground at the rate of 0.5 lb/acre (0.56 kg/ha). Bioassay cups were placed in a residential area encompassing open, moderate, and heavy cover scenarios between 0 and 300 ft (0–91.44 m) perpendicular to the spray line. An application rate of 0.5 lbs/acre (0.56 kg/ha) was used. Bioassay cups were collected after application and returned to the laboratory where 100 ml of distilled water and 10 F1 generation Ae. aegypti larvae were added. Laval mortality was monitored at 2, 4, and 24 h. Three separate runs were completed during the summer of 2018. Average larval mortality at 24 h was >90%. The field trial demonstrated sufficient efficacy to introduce this method of larviciding into operational use.


2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (28) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilaria Dorigatti ◽  
Arran Hamlet ◽  
Ricardo Aguas ◽  
Lorenzo Cattarino ◽  
Anne Cori ◽  
...  

States in south-eastern Brazil were recently affected by the largest Yellow Fever (YF) outbreak seen in a decade in Latin America. Here we provide a quantitative assessment of the risk of travel-related international spread of YF indicating that the United States, Argentina, Uruguay, Spain, Italy and Germany may have received at least one travel-related YF case capable of seeding local transmission. Mitigating the risk of imported YF cases seeding local transmission requires heightened surveillance globally.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Dien Bard ◽  
Moiz Bootwalla ◽  
Amy Leber ◽  
Paul Planet ◽  
Ahmed Moustafa ◽  
...  

The evolution of SARS-CoV2 virus has led to the emergence of variants of concern (VOC). Children, particularly <12 years old not yet eligible for vaccines, continue to be important reservoirs of SARS-CoV-2 yet VOC prevalence data in this population is lacking. We report data from a genomic surveillance program that includes 9 U.S. children's hospitals. Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 genome from 2119 patients <19 years old between 03/20 to 04/21 identified 252 VOCs and 560 VOC signature mutations, most from 10/20 onwards. From 02/21 to 04/21, B.1.1.7 prevalence increased from 3.85% to 72.22% corresponding with the decline of B.1.429/B.1.427 from 51.82% to 16.67% at one institution. 71.74% of the VOC signature mutations detected were in children <12 years old, including 33 cases of B.1.1.7 and 119 of B.1.429/B.1.427. There continues to be a need for ongoing genomic surveillance, particularly among young children who will be the last groups to be vaccinated.


2013 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 1243-1247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo E. Mendes ◽  
Robert K. Flamm ◽  
Patricia A. Hogan ◽  
James E. Ross ◽  
Ronald N. Jones

ABSTRACTThis study summarizes the linezolid susceptibility testing results for 7,429 Gram-positive pathogens from 60 U.S. sites collected during the 2012 sampling year for the LEADER Program. Linezolid showed potent activity when tested against 2,980Staphylococcus aureusisolates, inhibiting all but 3 at ≤2 μg/ml. Similarly, linezolid showed coverage against 99.5% of enterococci, as well as for all streptococci tested. These results confirm a long record of linezolid activity against U.S. Gram-positive isolates since regulatory approval in 2000.


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