scholarly journals A Checklist of the Mosquito Species in 13 Counties West of San Antonio, Texas

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 119-124
Author(s):  
William J. Sames ◽  
Raymond F. Dunton ◽  
Bethany G. Bolling
Keyword(s):  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
San Antonio ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
County Level ◽  
Species List ◽  
Department Of State ◽  
Government Documents ◽  
Texas Department ◽  
Collection Data

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to consolidate mosquito information for 13 counties west of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, and to create a species checklist for future regional studies. The resulting checklist established a baseline for local mosquito-borne disease surveillance and can serve as a resource for public health officials. The 13 counties in this region were Bandera, Edwards, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Maverick, Medina, Real, Sutton, Uvalde, Val Verde, and Zavala counties. To develop the checklist, county-level mosquito species data were extracted from 38 peer-reviewed publications and government documents, university reference collections, private collections, and the Texas Department of State Health Services' historical collection data. These data were combined with author field collections to create a comprehensive species list. Overall, 339 county-level records were documented through field studies with a total of 36 species representing 8 genera confirmed as being present in this region. An additional 14 species listed in historical surveillance records were not collected during this study.

scholarly journals County-Level Records for Culex stigmatosoma and Culex thriambus in Texas

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-33
Author(s):  
William J. Sames ◽  
Eleanor O. Kirkscey ◽  
Raymond F. Dunton ◽  
Bethany G. Bolling ◽  
Alexander L. Wild
Keyword(s):  
San Antonio ◽  
Vector Competence ◽  
Surveillance Studies ◽  
Department Of State ◽  
Texas Department ◽  
Distributional Information ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Southwestern Usa ◽  
Culex Stigmatosoma ◽  
Regional Surveillance

ABSTRACT Populations of Culex stigmatosoma and Cx. thriambus have been documented in the southwestern USA with a southward range extension to northern South America and Central America, respectively. Studies conducted in California indicate both species are potential vectors of West Nile virus. However, vector competence studies are lacking for other parts of the USA. During a multicounty regional surveillance study west of San Antonio, Texas, multiple errors were observed in the Texas distributional literature of these species. These errors involved incorrect distributional information in Texas and US publications. Evidence to correct these errant records was found upon further analysis of Texas literature and curated specimens. Therefore, the aims of this study were to present that evidence and then combine the corrected records with additional records from the Texas Department of State Health Services and from larval collections made during other Texas surveillance studies.

Special Flashing Warning Lights for Construction, Maintenance, and Service Vehicles: Are Amber Beacons Always Enough?

2000 ◽  
Vol 1715 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald L. Ullman
Keyword(s):  
Blue Light ◽  
San Antonio ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Fort Worth ◽  
Amber Light ◽  
Warning Light ◽  
Texas Department ◽  
Color Combinations ◽  
Light Color ◽  
Traffic Behavior

Ways to improve the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT’s) current vehicle warning light policy were researched. Tasks included a survey of motorist perceptions of different warning light color combinations and also field studies of the effect of selected color combinations on traffic behavior. The motorist survey, conducted at driver licensing stations in Dallas–Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Houston, indicated that the combination of blue and amber lights implied a slightly greater sense of hazard to motorists than did the amber light alone. However, this greater sense of hazard did not necessarily translate into differences in how motorists believed they needed to respond. Field studies conducted at freeway locations in San Antonio and Houston investigated the effect of selected, alternative vehicle warning-light color combinations on vehicle speeds, lane choice, and braking activity. Researchers found significant reductions in speeds at a few sites—but not all—for the amber and blue warning light color combination when compared with speeds observed when only an amber warning light was used. In addition, the data suggested a trend toward increased brake usage for the red, amber, and blue light configuration compared with the amber-light-only configuration. There also was evidence that the amber-and-blue light configuration slightly increased the frequency of brake applications. Furthermore, the use of a law enforcement vehicle during testing resulted in significantly more brake-light activations than did a TxDOT courtesy patrol vehicle outfitted with the same warning light colors.

scholarly journals Entomological Investigation Following a Zika Outbreak in Brownsville, Texas

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 286-290
Author(s):  
John-Paul Mutebi ◽  
Marvin Godsey ◽  
Dominic Rose ◽  
Fred Barnes ◽  
Jesus Rodriguez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zika Virus ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Surveillance Program ◽  
Department Of State ◽  
Texas Department ◽  
Mosquito Collection ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Arbovirus Surveillance ◽  
The City

ABSTRACT In November and December 2016, an outbreak of locally transmitted Zika occurred in Brownsville, TX. The Texas Department of State Health Services requested for a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Epi Aid, and as part of that Epi Aid a team of CDC entomologists was deployed in January 2017. The mission was to improve mosquito-based arbovirus surveillance and evaluate the possibility of continuing local Zika virus (ZIKV) transmission in the city. The mosquito-based arbovirus surveillance program was expanded from 4 to 40 BG-Sentinel traps evenly distributed throughout the city. Over a 2-wk period, 15 mosquito species were detected; the most abundant species were Culex quinquefasciatus, Aedes aegypti, and Ae. albopictus, which accounted for 66.7%, 16.2%, and 5.7% of the total mosquito collection, respectively. The relative abundance of Ae. aegypti (1.0 mosquitoes/trap/day) and Ae. albopictus (0.4 mosquitoes/trap/day) was very low and unlikely to initiate and/or sustain ZIKV transmission. Zika virus was not detected in the mosquitoes collected, suggesting no or extremely low ZIKV transmission at that time.

scholarly journals An updated understanding of Texas bumble bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) species presence and potential distributions in Texas, USA

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica L. Beckham ◽  
Samuel Atkinson
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Species Distributions ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
The United States ◽  
Bumble Bee ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Distribution Models ◽  
Species List ◽  
Central Texas ◽  
Declining Species

Texas is the second largest state in the United States of America, and the largest state in the contiguous USA at nearly 700,000 sq. km. Several Texas bumble bee species have shown evidence of declines in portions of their continental ranges, and conservation initiatives targeting these species will be most effective if species distributions are well established. To date, statewide bumble bee distributions for Texas have been inferred primarily from specimen records housed in natural history collections. To improve upon these maps, and help inform conservation decisions, this research aimed to (1) update existing Texas bumble bee presence databases to include recent (2007–2016) data from citizen science repositories and targeted field studies, (2) model statewide species distributions of the most common bumble bee species in Texas using MaxEnt, and (3) identify conservation target areas for the state that are most likely to contain habitat suitable for multiple declining species. The resulting Texas bumble bee database is comprised of 3,580 records, to include previously compiled museum records dating from 1897, recent field survey data, and vetted records from citizen science repositories. These data yielded an updated state species list that includes 11 species, as well as species distribution models (SDMs) for the most common Texas bumble bee species, including two that have shown evidence of range-wide declines: B. fraternus (Smith, 1854) and B. pensylvanicus (DeGeer, 1773). Based on analyses of these models, we have identified conservation priority areas within the Texas Cross Timbers, Texas Blackland Prairies, and East Central Texas Plains ecoregions where suitable habitat for both B. fraternus and B. pensylvanicus are highly likely to co-occur.

Abstract TP232: Disparities in Access to Stroke Research in the State of Texas

Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tzu-Ching Wu ◽  
Christy M Ankrom ◽  
Arvind B Bambhroliya ◽  
Shima Borzorgui ◽  
Sean I Savitz
Keyword(s):  
Census Data ◽  
Census Bureau ◽  
The State ◽  
Discharge Data ◽  
Department Of State ◽  
Stroke Research ◽  
Texas Department ◽  
The Status ◽  
Stroke Center ◽  
Us Census

Objective: Access to care is an important healthcare goal but access to research is also important to patients. We sought to gain an understanding of the status of stroke research among the various stroke designated hospitals in the state and to identify regions and facilities that lack access to stroke research. Methods: Texas Department of State Health Service (TDSHS) designated stroke facilities (DSF) were surveyed using a standardized questionnaire via telephone/email to confirm stroke center status, presence of a dedicated stroke coordinator, use of telestroke services, and participation in stroke research. Stroke discharge data were obtained from TDSHS and stroke volume (by ICD) were estimated for 2013 for all non-DSF. Census data were obtained from the US Census Bureau. Results: In total, 109/136 (80%) TDSHS DSF responded to the survey. Only 32/109 (29%) of the TDSHS DSF are participating in stroke research, mostly in the 4 metropolitan areas (fig 1). We identified 16 non-DSF that have 100-149 stroke discharges, and another 21 non-DSF that have ≥ 150 stroke discharges (fig 1). Over half (53%) of the DSF in the state are utilizing telestroke services. Conclusions: Most clinical stroke research conducted in Texas is in the 4 metropolitan markets. Our findings demonstrate that over 50% or ~14 million Texans reside outside of the 4 markets and therefore may lack access to stroke research. To increase access, we identified several non-DSF in the state with substantial stroke discharges (fig 1). Academic centers and non-DSF partnering through telemedicine and other relationships should be considered to expand throughout the state opportunities for participation in stroke research.

Developing Operational and Safety Guidelines for School Sites in Texas

2005 ◽  
Vol 1922 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-97
Author(s):  
Scott A. Cooner
Keyword(s):  
Field Studies ◽  
Advisory Panel ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
School Site ◽  
Texas Department ◽  
District Personnel ◽  
Site Access ◽  
School Sites ◽  
Site Planning ◽  
A Site

The objective of a two-year study was to recommend school site planning guidelines for transportation-related elements such as site selection, general site requirements and design, bus operations, parent drop-off and pickup zones, driveways, turn lanes, signing and marking, parking, and pedestrian and bicycle access. The research team based these guidelines on a comprehensive review of existing guidelines and the results of field studies at school sites in Texas. Examples are provided of good practices and of practices to avoid for three of the more prominent guidelines. The guidelines are focused on transportation design, operations, and safety within school sites—with a particular focus on the parent drop-off and pickup zones. A site plan review checklist based on the 21 consensus guidelines approved by the project advisory panel is provided. Texas Department of Transportation engineers, field crews, architects, and school district personnel can use this checklist to coordinate efforts and improve the safety and efficiency of school site access and traffic flow.

The rediscovery and conservation status of the Bahian giant tree rat Phyllomys unicolor (Mammalia: Rodentia: Echimyidae) in the Atlantic forest of Brazil

Zootaxa ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 1638 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
YURI L.R. LEITE ◽  
SIMONE LÓSS ◽  
RENAN P. REGO ◽  
LEONORA P. COSTA ◽  
CIBELE R. BONVICINO
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Sequence Divergence ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Single Specimen ◽  
Species List ◽  
Eastern Brazil ◽  
Mitochondrial Cytochrome B ◽  
Nineteeth Century ◽  
High Level

The Bahian giant tree rat Phyllomys unicolor (Wagner) was described from a single specimen collected in the early nineteeth century, and it has not been recorded since. It was included on the Brazilian endangered species list, and considered extinct by some. Here we report the rediscovery of P. unicolor around the type locality in the Atlantic forest of southeastern Bahia, eastern Brazil. We trapped only one young individual during seven expeditions to ten localities in the area. The phylogenetic distinctiveness of this taxon based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene is clear, in spite of uncertainties regarding clade support. The evolutionary uniqueness of P. unicolor was confirmed by a high level of sequence divergence from congeneric species. We propose that the Bahian giant tree rat should be globally listed as Critically Endangered by the World Conservation Union. Phyllomys unicolor seems to be restricted to swamp forests and it does not occur in any protected area. Intensive field studies should be carried out in the region to locate populations and to study ecological attributes of this species. The rediscovery of P. unicolor draws attention to the biological importance and the lack of protected areas in this region of the Atlantic forest.

scholarly journals Delimiting cryptic morphological variation among human malaria vector species using convolutional neural networks

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. e0008904
Author(s):  
Jannelle Couret ◽  
Danilo C. Moreira ◽  
Davin Bernier ◽  
Aria Mia Loberti ◽  
Ellen M. Dotson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neural Networks ◽  
Convolutional Neural Networks ◽  
Morphological Variation ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Data Augmentation ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Mosquito Vector ◽  
Vector Species

Deep learning is a powerful approach for distinguishing classes of images, and there is a growing interest in applying these methods to delimit species, particularly in the identification of mosquito vectors. Visual identification of mosquito species is the foundation of mosquito-borne disease surveillance and management, but can be hindered by cryptic morphological variation in mosquito vector species complexes such as the malaria-transmitting Anopheles gambiae complex. We sought to apply Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) to images of mosquitoes as a proof-of-concept to determine the feasibility of automatic classification of mosquito sex, genus, species, and strains using whole-body, 2D images of mosquitoes. We introduce a library of 1, 709 images of adult mosquitoes collected from 16 colonies of mosquito vector species and strains originating from five geographic regions, with 4 cryptic species not readily distinguishable morphologically even by trained medical entomologists. We present a methodology for image processing, data augmentation, and training and validation of a CNN. Our best CNN configuration achieved high prediction accuracies of 96.96% for species identification and 98.48% for sex. Our results demonstrate that CNNs can delimit species with cryptic morphological variation, 2 strains of a single species, and specimens from a single colony stored using two different methods. We present visualizations of the CNN feature space and predictions for interpretation of our results, and we further discuss applications of our findings for future applications in malaria mosquito surveillance.

scholarly journals From Surveillance To Control: Evaluation of A Larvicide Intervention Against Aedes aegypti In Brownsville, Texas

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 233-237
Author(s):  
Selene M. Garcia-Luna ◽  
Luis Fernando Chaves ◽  
José G. Juarez ◽  
Bethany G. Bolling ◽  
Arturo Rodriguez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aedes Aegypti ◽  
Mosquito Control ◽  
South Texas ◽  
Bacillus Thuringiensis Israelensis ◽  
Department Of State ◽  
Texas Department ◽  
Control Evaluation ◽  
The City ◽  
Contingency Contract ◽  
Local Transmission

ABSTRACT South Texas is recognized as a potential area for the emergence and re-emergence of mosquito-borne diseases due to recent circulation of Zika, chikungunya, and dengue viruses. During 2017, high Aedes aegypti abundance found in the city of Brownsville, TX, in combination with the previous year's local transmission of Zika virus, triggered the activation of the Texas Department of State Health Services Emergency Mosquito Control Contingency Contract. A contract with the Clarke Environmental and Mosquito Control was a response to control Ae. aegypti, using a ground-based wide-area larvicide spray (WALS™) containing Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis. The WALS application was evaluated through a field-based bioassay and by comparing surveillance data pre- and post-WALS application. The WALS application bioassay demonstrated that the larvicide was effective up to 60 m into the target properties. Additionally, the number of Ae. aegypti captured in traps decreased in the WALS intervention areas compared with the untreated control areas, with an estimated 29% control.

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