New nephropid lobster (Decapoda: Astacidea) from the late Campanian of California; extending the range of Pacific coastal fossil lobster occurrences

Two well preserved specimens of nephropid lobster from the Late Cretaceous (late Campanian) Point Loma Formation in San Diego County, California, form the basis of description of a new species of Hoploparia. The occurrence represents the southernmost fossil record of macrurans along the Pacific coast of North America and it is only the third fossil lobster from California.

373. Household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 lineage –2 U.S. States, 2021

Background In December 2020, B.1.1.7 lineage of SARS-CoV-2 was first detected in the United States and has since become the dominant lineage. Previous investigations involving B.1.1.7 suggested higher rates of transmission relative to non-B.1.1.7 lineages. We conducted a household transmission investigation to determine the secondary infection rates (SIR) of B.1.1.7 and non-B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 lineages. Methods From January–April 2021, we enrolled members of households in San Diego County, CA, and Denver, CO metropolitan area (Tri-County), with a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in a household member with illness onset date in the previous 10 days. CDC investigators visited households at enrollment and 14 days later at closeout to obtain demographic and clinical data and nasopharyngeal (NP) samples on all consenting household members. Interim visits, with collection of NP swabs, occurred if a participant became symptomatic during follow-up. NP samples were tested for SARS-CoV-2 using TaqPath™ RT-PCR test, where failure to amplify the spike protein results in S-Gene target failure (SGTF) may indicate B.1.1.7 lineage. Demographic characteristics and SIR were compared among SGTF and non-SGTF households using two-sided p-values with chi-square tests; 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated with Wilson score intervals. Results 552 persons from 151 households were enrolled. 91 (60%) households were classified as SGTF, 57 (38%) non-SGTF, and 3 (2%) indeterminant. SGTF and non-SGTF households had similar sex distribution (49% female and 52% female, respectively; P=0.54) and age (median 30 years, interquartile range (IQR 14–47) and 31 years (IQR 15–45), respectively). Hispanic people accounted for 24% and 32% of enrolled members of SGTF and non-SGTF households, respectively (p=0.04). At least one secondary case occurred in 61% of SGTF and 58% of non-SGTF households (P=0.66). SIR was 52% (95%[CI] 46%-59%) for SGTF and 45% (95% CI 37%-53%) for non-SGTF households (P=0.18). Conclusion SIRs were high in both SGTF and non-SGTF households; our findings did not support an increase in SIR for SGTF relative to non-SGTF households in this setting. Sequence confirmed SARS-CoV-2 samples will provide further information on lineage specific SIRs. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Association between Participation in Counseling and Retention in a Buprenorphine-Assisted Treatment Program for People Experiencing Homelessness with Opioid Use Disorder

The opioid epidemic is a public health crisis that disproportionately affects our unsheltered neighbors. Because medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is effective for preventing deaths from drug overdose and retention is associated with better health outcomes, there is a clear need for more research on factors impacting retention in care. This retrospective cohort analysis examines the relationship between attendance in counseling and retention on buprenorphine for three or more months for individuals experiencing homelessness being treated at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and Public Health Service Act §330(h) Health Care for the Homeless Program grantee in San Diego County, California. The cohort included 306 adults experiencing homelessness who had at least one prescription for buprenorphine and participated in a MAT program between 2017 and 2019. The sample included 64.4% men, almost exclusively white, and 35% lived in a place not meant for human habitation. Of the sample, 97 patients were retained at 3 months and 209 were not. Results from a logistic regression model showed that counseling appointments were positively associated with retention at three months (OR = 1.57, p < 0.001). Findings from this study inform future MAT program design components for people experiencing homelessness.

Phoretic mite infestations associated with Rhynchophorus palmarum (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in southern California

The South American palm weevil, Rhynchophorus palmarum (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), established in San Diego County, California, USA sometime around 2014. Attached to the motile adults of this destructive palm pest, we identified three species of uropodine mites (Parasitiformes: Uropodina), Centrouropoda n. sp., Dinychus n. sp. and Fuscuropoda marginata. Two of these species, Centrouropoda n. sp. and Dinychus n. sp. are recorded for the first time in the USA and were likely introduced by R. palmarum. Several species of mites, primarily of Uropodina, have previously been recorded as phoretic on Rhynchophorus spp. In this study, we examined 3,035 adult R. palmarum trapped over a 2.5-year period, July 2016 to December 2018, and documented the presence of and species composition of phoretic mites and their relationship with weevil morphometrics (i.e., pronotum length and width). The presence and species composition of mites on weevil body parts changed over the survey period. No mites were found under weevil elytra in 2016 and mite prevalence under elytra increased over 2017–2018 due to an increased abundance of Centrouropoda n. sp per individual beetle. Mite occurrence levels were significantly correlated with reduced pronotum widths of male weevils only. The significance of this finding on male weevil fitness is unknown. Potential implications of phoretic mites on aspects of the invasion biology of R. palmarum are discussed.

COVID-19 Vaccine Superstations as a Model to Rapidly Achieve Herd Immunity

Background: The County of San Diego Health and Human Services (SDHHSA) established a goal to vaccinate 1.9 million residents as quickly as possible to attain vaccine induced herd immunity. This strategy would minimize the emergence of more transmissible variants, to which some vaccines may be less effective. With this strategy in mind, UC San Diego Health (UCSDH) collaborated with the local health authorities and the San Diego Padres to build a superstation in downtown San Diego in the parking lot of a baseball stadium. Methods: Building on the experience of rapidly vaccinating the UCSDH workforce in mid-December 2020, UCSDH and SDHHSA partnered to more efficiently distribute SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in San Diego County by building a vaccine superstation. The San Diego Padres offered their parking lot as the site; it was centrally located, easily accessible, quick to set up, and semipermanent. They also provided infrastructure support, event coordination, and internet capability. Occupying a space of ~6.5 acres, the superstation included 12 lanes serving 12 cars each, with ~3 cycles every hour, as well as a pedestrian walk-up station. Altogether, the site had the capacity for >5,000 vaccinations daily. This effort required coordination among administration, healthcare providers, IT specialists, and support staff—a daily workforce of >300 persons. The workforce needs were met using a multipronged approach, including flexible staffing, coordination of volunteers, and recruitment of previously retired providers. The private–public partnership enabled the superstation to be up and running in 5 days. Results: The operation was quickly ramped up to provide >6,000 vaccines daily. Initially only open to healthcare workers, on January 17 the superstation was expanded to persons aged >75 years, with further expansion to those aged ≥65 years on January 23. From January 11 to February 5, >100,000 individuals received their first dose of vaccine at the superstation, corresponding to ~31% of all San Diego county vaccinations. Conclusions: Vaccination of as many people as quickly as possible is essential to controlling the pandemic. Unchecked replication of SARS-CoV-2 allows increases the chance that the virus may develop mutations that render vaccines and therapeutics less effective. Our model vaccine superstation was replicated at 3 more sites around the county, the limited allocation of vaccine has been the only barrier to further expansion. A force of 10 superstations could administer a first dose to the remaining 1.6 million county residents within 32 days.Funding: NoDisclosures: None