Disease Surveillance of Dirofilaria immitis and West Nile Virus in Mosquitoes in Lowndes County, Georgia
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Authors
Holley, Amber
Issue Date
2023-08-23
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Academic theses , Biology , Entomology , Lowndes County (Ga.) , Dirofilaria immitis , West Nile virus
Alternative Title
Abstract
Dirofilaria immitis, the causative agent of canine heartworm disease, and West Nile virus (WNV) are both mosquito-borne pathogens. Mosquito surveillance and vector determination are crucial in understanding the transmission of these pathogens which helps implement methods of control to prevent and predict outbreaks. In this study I assessed the ability of the Anopheles quadrimaculatus complex to transmit D. immitis and investigated the influence climate and land use and land changes (LULC) have on WNV transmission in Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes, the primary vector in the Southeastern United States. Standard PCR and an L3-specific RT-PCR protocol were used to assess D. immitis infection rates in An. quadrimaculatus mosquito samples. To determine the influence of climate and LULC on WNV from 2012-2021, data were collected from Weather Underground and the VSU WNV Mosquito Surveillance lab. Results from this study suggest that the An. quadrimaculatus complex is a potential vector of D. immitis and that urbanization and temperature influence WNV transmission by mosquitoes in Lowndes Co., GA.
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This dissertation is protected by the Copyright Laws of the United States (Public Law 94-553, revised in 1976). Consistent with fair use as defined in the Copyright Laws, brief quotations from this material are allowed with proper acknowledgement. Use of the materials for financial gain with the author's expressed written permissions is not allowed.