BIOSURVEILLANCE FOR MOSQUITOES AS POTENTIAL DISEASE VECTORS IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA USA: A ONE-HEALTH APPROACH

Mosquito-borne diseases threaten both humans and animals in the southeastern United States where favorable climate and aquatic habitats are well suited for mosquito breeding. Little is known about recent trends in mosquito occurrence in much of the state of Georgia. During early May and from late August through November 2017, we initiated a survey for mosquitoes in diverse habitats across Berry College’s 107-square-kilometer outdoor laboratory. Following a One Health approach, we collected in areas frequented by humans, domestic animals, and wildlife, using three standard traps designed to attract mosquitoes, deployed on 53 occasions: CDC miniature light (incandescent); BG Sentinel-2; Mosquito Magnet. All were equipped to emit carbon dioxide and/or chemical attractants for mosquitoes. Trapped mosquitoes were dried and sorted in the laboratory and identified using a dissecting stereomicroscope. Sixteen mosquito species were collected: Aedes albopictus, Aedes canadensis, Aedes sticticus, Aedes triseriatus, Aedes vexans, Anopheles crucians, Anopheles punctipennis, Anopheles quadrimaculatus, Culex erraticus, Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex salinarius, Culex tarsalis, Psorophora ciliata, Psorophora ferox, Psorophora howardii, and Uranotaenia sapphirina. Mosquitoes varied in species composition among the trap sites in diverse habitats and differential proximity to wildlife, livestock, or human activity centers. The highest numbers were Ae. albopictus collected near one group of student dormitories. Collectively, in some regions these species are known vectors of many pathogens including but not limited to: Zika, dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, eastern equine encephalitis, La Crosse encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, West Nile, and other viruses; Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens; Plasmodium vivax (malaria). Each of these pathogens is known either to occur presently, to have occurred historically, or to have potential for emergence or re-emergence in northwest Georgia. We conclude that there is potential for transmission of some of these pathogens to humans and/or animals by existing mosquito populations here. Thus, we recommend further surveillance of both vectors and hosts