scholarly journals Light Pollution Increases West Nile Virus Competence in a Ubiquitous Passerine Reservoir Species

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. Kernbach ◽  
J. M. Miller ◽  
R. J. Hall ◽  
T. R. Unnasch ◽  
N. D. Burkett-Cadena ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Light Pollution ◽  
Avian Host ◽  
Immune Functions ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Reservoir Species ◽  
Risk Of Disease ◽  
Disease Epidemics

One sentence summaryLight pollution increases host infectiousness.AbstractLight pollution is a growing problem, but its impacts on infectious disease risk have not been considered. Previous research has revealed that dim light at night (dLAN) dysregulates various immune functions and biorhythms, which hints that dLAN could change the risk of disease epidemics. Here, we demonstrate that dLAN enhances infectiousness of the house sparrow (Passer domesticus), an urban-dwelling avian host of West Nile virus (WNV). Sparrows exposed to dLAN maintained viral titers above the transmission threshold to a biting vector (105 plaque-forming units) for two days longer than controls but did not die at higher rates. A mathematical model revealed that such effects could increase WNV outbreak potential by ~41%. dLAN likely affects other host and vector traits relevant to transmission, so additional research is needed to advise management of zoonotic diseases in light polluted areas.

scholarly journals Light pollution increases West Nile virus competence of a ubiquitous passerine reservoir species

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1907) ◽  
pp. 20191051 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meredith E. Kernbach ◽  
Daniel J. Newhouse ◽  
Jeanette M. Miller ◽  
Richard J. Hall ◽  
Justin Gibbons ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Regulatory Networks ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Reservoir Host ◽  
Light Pollution ◽  
Light At Night ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Reservoir Species ◽  
The Many

Among the many anthropogenic changes that impact humans and wildlife, one of the most pervasive but least understood is light pollution. Although detrimental physiological and behavioural effects resulting from exposure to light at night are widely appreciated, the impacts of light pollution on infectious disease risk have not been studied. Here, we demonstrate that artificial light at night (ALAN) extends the infectious-to-vector period of the house sparrow ( Passer domesticus ), an urban-dwelling avian reservoir host of West Nile virus (WNV). Sparrows exposed to ALAN maintained transmissible viral titres for 2 days longer than controls but did not experience greater WNV-induced mortality during this window. Transcriptionally, ALAN altered the expression of gene regulatory networks including key hubs (OASL, PLBD1 and TRAP1) and effector genes known to affect WNV dissemination (SOCS). Despite mounting anti-viral immune responses earlier, transcriptomic signatures indicated that ALAN-exposed individuals probably experienced pathogen-induced damage and immunopathology, potentially due to evasion of immune effectors. A simple mathematical modelling exercise indicated that ALAN-induced increases of host infectious-to-vector period could increase WNV outbreak potential by approximately 41%. ALAN probably affects other host and vector traits relevant to transmission, and additional research is needed to advise the management of zoonotic diseases in light-polluted areas.

scholarly journals Light pollution affects West Nile virus exposure risk across Florida

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meredith E. Kernbach ◽  
Lynn B. Martin ◽  
Thomas R. Unnasch ◽  
Richard J. Hall ◽  
Rays H.Y. Jiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Surveillance Program ◽  
Light Pollution ◽  
Exposure Risk ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Field Evidence ◽  
Zoonotic Risk

AbstractEmerging infectious diseases (EIDs), including zoonotic arboviruses, present a global health threat. Multiple components of human land use change have been linked to arboviral emergence, but one pervasive factor that has received comparatively little attention is light pollution. Although often considered a component of built environments, artificial light at night (ALAN) outpaces the growth and spatial extent of urbanization, and thus affects areas where human population density and anthropogenic land changes are modest. West Nile virus (WNV) emergence has been described as peri-urban, but recent research suggests that its relative ubiquity in human-altered environments might actually be due to ALAN. Indeed, we found previously that experimental ALAN exposure enhanced avian competence to transmit WNV to mosquitoes. In the present study, we asked whether such organismal effects manifest ecologically by determining whether WNV exposure among sentinel chickens in Florida is related to local ALAN conditions. We found strong support for a nonlinear relationship between ALAN and WNV exposure in chickens with peak WNV risk occurring at low ALAN levels. Importantly, effects of ALAN on WNV exposure were stronger than other aspects of urbanization; only ambient temperature in the month prior to sampling had a comparable effect to ALAN. These results represent the first field evidence that ALAN might affect infectious disease exposure risk. We advocate for further research on how ALAN influences zoonotic risk, as well as efforts to study alternative nighttime lighting methods to reduce such risk.Significance StatementLight pollution associated with human development is a globally pervasive and rapidly expanding anthropogenic stressor; but despite documented effects on host immune functions and vector behaviors, how it affects infectious disease risk is unknown. Using data from the Florida Department of Health arbovirus surveillance program, we show that light pollution is a stronger predictor of variation in West Nile virus (WNV) exposure risk than many other previously implicated anthropogenic and natural environmental variables. Light pollution effects are nonlinear, so risk is highest in areas with dim light pollution. Our results highlight a new way that light pollution might affect human and wildlife health.

scholarly journals Integrating Spatiotemporal Epidemiology, Eco-Phylogenetics, and Distributional Ecology to Assess West Nile Disease Risk in Horses

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 1811
Author(s):  
John M. Humphreys ◽  
Angela M. Pelzel-McCluskey ◽  
Lee W. Cohnstaedt ◽  
Bethany L. McGregor ◽  
Kathryn A. Hanley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Dynamics ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
The United States ◽  
Host Community ◽  
Avian Host ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Phylogenetic Structure ◽  
Vaccination Programs

Mosquito-borne West Nile virus (WNV) is the causative agent of West Nile disease in humans, horses, and some bird species. Since the initial introduction of WNV to the United States (US), approximately 30,000 horses have been impacted by West Nile neurologic disease and hundreds of additional horses are infected each year. Research describing the drivers of West Nile disease in horses is greatly needed to better anticipate the spatial and temporal extent of disease risk, improve disease surveillance, and alleviate future economic impacts to the equine industry and private horse owners. To help meet this need, we integrated techniques from spatiotemporal epidemiology, eco-phylogenetics, and distributional ecology to assess West Nile disease risk in horses throughout the contiguous US. Our integrated approach considered horse abundance and virus exposure, vector and host distributions, and a variety of extrinsic climatic, socio-economic, and environmental risk factors. Birds are WNV reservoir hosts, and therefore we quantified avian host community dynamics across the continental US to show intra-annual variability in host phylogenetic structure and demonstrate host phylodiversity as a mechanism for virus amplification in time and virus dilution in space. We identified drought as a potential amplifier of virus transmission and demonstrated the importance of accounting for spatial non-stationarity when quantifying interaction between disease risk and meteorological influences such as temperature and precipitation. Our results delineated the timing and location of several areas at high risk of West Nile disease and can be used to prioritize vaccination programs and optimize virus surveillance and monitoring.

scholarly journals Experimental infection of house sparrows (Passer domesticus) with West Nile virus strains of lineages 1 and 2

2014 ◽  
Vol 172 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 542-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Del Amo ◽  
Francisco Llorente ◽  
Elisa Pérez-Ramirez ◽  
Ramón C. Soriguer ◽  
Jordi Figuerola ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Experimental Infection ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
West Nile ◽  
House Sparrows ◽  
Virus Strains

scholarly journals On the Fly: Interactions Between Birds, Mosquitoes, and Environment That Have Molded West Nile Virus Genomic Structure Over Two Decades

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 1467-1474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nisha K Duggal ◽  
Kate E Langwig ◽  
Gregory D Ebel ◽  
Aaron C Brault
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Vector Competence ◽  
Genomic Structure ◽  
Inverse Correlation ◽  
Purifying Selection ◽  
Relative Effect ◽  
Avian Host ◽  
West Nile ◽  
House Sparrows ◽  
Host Competence

Abstract West Nile virus (WNV) was first identified in North America almost 20 yr ago. In that time, WNV has crossed the continent and established enzootic transmission cycles, resulting in intermittent outbreaks of human disease that have largely been linked with climatic variables and waning avian seroprevalence. During the transcontinental dissemination of WNV, the original genotype has been displaced by two principal extant genotypes which contain an envelope mutation that has been associated with enhanced vector competence by Culex pipiens L. (Diptera: Culicidae) and Culex tarsalis Coquillett vectors. Analyses of retrospective avian host competence data generated using the founding NY99 genotype strain have demonstrated a steady reduction in viremias of house sparrows over time. Reciprocally, the current genotype strains WN02 and SW03 have demonstrated an inverse correlation between house sparrow viremia magnitude and the time since isolation. These data collectively indicate that WNV has evolved for increased avian viremia while house sparrows have evolved resistance to the virus such that the relative host competence has remained constant. Intrahost analyses of WNV evolution demonstrate that selection pressures are avian species-specific and purifying selection is greater in individual birds compared with individual mosquitoes, suggesting that the avian adaptive and/or innate immune response may impose a selection pressure on WNV. Phylogenomic, experimental evolutionary systems, and models that link viral evolution with climate, host, and vector competence studies will be needed to identify the relative effect of different selective and stochastic mechanisms on viral phenotypes and the capacity of newly evolved WNV genotypes for transmission in continuously changing landscapes.

scholarly journals Experimental infection of house sparrows (Passer domesticus) with West Nile virus isolates of Euro-Mediterranean and North American origins

2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Del Amo ◽  
Francisco Llorente ◽  
Jordi Figuerola ◽  
Ramón C Soriguer ◽  
Ana M Moreno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Experimental Infection ◽  
North American ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
West Nile ◽  
House Sparrows ◽  
Virus Isolates

scholarly journals Host-seeking activity and avian host preferences of mosquitoes associated with West Nile virus transmission in the northeastern U.S.A.

2010 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Channsotha Suom ◽  
Howard S. Ginsberg ◽  
Andrew Bernick ◽  
Coby Klein ◽  
P.A. Buckley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Avian Host ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Host Preferences ◽  
Host Seeking ◽  
West Nile Virus Transmission
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