Ecology of West Nile Virus in the Southeastern US

美国东南部西尼罗河病毒的生态学

• 批准号: 6953141
• 负责人: THOMAS R UNNASCH
• 金额: $ 20.29万
• 依托单位: UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-09-30 至 2007-09-29
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/6953141
• 关键词: Aedes; Aves; Culex; Diptera; United States; West Nile virus; arthropod borne communicable disease; communicable disease transmission; disease outbreaks; disease vectors; ecology; epizootiology; field study; geographic difference; host organism interaction; wild animals

Description ( provided by applicant): Since its introduction in 1999,West Nile Virus (WNV) has spread rapidly through out most of North America. It is likely that the epidemiology and maintenance ecology of WNV will differ substantially from region to region, and will change overtime as the infection moves from an epidemic to an endemic pattern of infection. The Principal Investigators of this proposal have collaborated closely over the past four years in a study of the ecology of Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis(EEE) virus. We demonstrated that avian host choice by EEE vector mosquito esis highly restricted, and that certain species are targeted to a greater extent than predicted based upon their abundance. We have also found that peak periods in viral transmission correspond to periods of intense feeding upon certain avian hosts. We have also obtained preliminary data that suggest that vectors of WNV exhibit a similar pattern of avian host choice. The overall goal of this proposal will be to build upon our studies of the ecology of EEE transmission to develop a comprehensive picture of WNV transmission in the Southeastern USA. The specific aims of this proposal are: 1. To identify the most significant vectors for WNV in peri-urban and urban areas in South Central Alabama and to determine if the vector is involved in over-wintering of WNV in the Southeast. 2. To monitor WNV activity in the avifauna present at the study site, and to relate this activity to the interaction of the avifauna and vector mosquitoes at the site. We shall also monitor a well characterized songbird population to determine if there are subtle detrimental effects of WNV infection on the native avifauna. 3. To test the hypothesis that changes in the host-vector relationship are essential in triggering outbreaks of WNV.

描述（由申请人提供）：自1999年引入以来，西尼罗河病毒（WNV）在北美大部分地区迅速传播。 WNV的流行病学和维持生态可能会因地区之间而有很大差异，并且随着感染从流行病转变为流行的感染模式，加班会改变。在过去四年中，该提案的主要研究者在对东马脑脊髓炎（EEE）病毒的生态研究中进行了密切合作。我们证明，EEE媒介蚊子ESIS的鸟类寄主选择高度限制，并且某些物种的目标比基于其丰度所预测的更大程度。我们还发现，病毒传播中的峰值周期对应于某些鸟类宿主的强烈进食期。我们还获得了初步数据，表明WNV的向量表现出类似的鸟类宿主选择模式。该提案的总体目标是建立我们对EEE传播生态的研究，以制定美国东南部WNV传播的全面图景。该提案的具体目的是： 1。确定阿拉巴马州中南部城市和城市地区WNV的最重要的向量，并确定向量是否参与了东南部的WNV越冬。 2。监测研究地点存在的Avifauna中的WNV活性，并将此活动与该地点的Avifauna和Vector Mosquitoes的相互作用联系起来。我们还将监视一个特征良好的鸣禽种群，以确定WNV感染对天然Avifauna是否存在微妙的有害影响。 3。为了测试假设，即宿主矢量关系的变化对于触发WNV爆发至关重要。