Comparing the effect of modeled climatic variables on the distribution of African horse sickness in South Africa and Namibia
This study compared and evaluated the relationship of various modeled climatic variables with the distribution and abundance of AHS in South Africa and Namibia. A comprehensive literature review of the historical AHS reported data collected from the Windhoek archives as well as annual reports from the Directorate of Veterinary services in Namibia were conducted. South African AHS reported data were collected from the South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. Daily climatic data were extracted for the time period 1993–2011 from the ERA‐interim re‐analysis dataset. The principal component analys...
Source: Journal of Vector Ecology - November 27, 2015 Category: Biology Authors: Danica Liebenberg, Huib van Hamburg, Stuart Piketh, Roelof Burger Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Coexistence of Bartonella henselae and B. clarridgeiae in populations of cats and their fleas in Guatemala
ABSTRACT
Cats and their fleas collected in Guatemala were investigated for the presence of Bartonella infections. Bartonella bacteria were cultured from 8.2% (13/159) of cats, and all cultures were identified as B. henselae. Molecular analysis allowed detection of Bartonella DNA in 33.8% (48/142) of cats and in 22.4% (34/152) of cat fleas using gltA, nuoG, and 16S–23S internal transcribed spacer targets. Two Bartonella species, B. henselae and B. clarridgeiae, were identified in cats and cat fleas by molecular analysis, with B. henselae being more common than B. clarridgeiae in the cats (68.1%; 32/47 vs 31.9%; 15/47). Th...
Source: Journal of Vector Ecology - November 27, 2015 Category: Biology Authors: Ying Bai, Maria Fernanda Rizzo, Danilo Alvarez, David Moran, Leonard F. Peruski, Michael Kosoy Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
The effects of plant essential oils on escape response and mortality rate of Aedes aegypti and Anopheles minimus
This study characterized these actions in essential oils derived from citronella, hairy basil, catnip, and vetiver in comparison to DEET and picaridin against Aedes aegypti and Anopheles minimus mosquito populations. Results indicated the two mosquito species exhibited significantly different (P<0.05) contact irritant escape responses between treatment and control for all tested compound concentrations, except with the minimum dose of picaridin (P>0.05) against Ae. aegypti. Spatial repellency responses were elicited in both mosquito species when exposed to all compounds, but the strength of the repellent response was...
Source: Journal of Vector Ecology - November 27, 2015 Category: Biology Authors: Sunaiyana Sathantriphop, Nicole L. Achee, Unchalee Sanguanpong, Theeraphap Chareonviriyaphap Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) and livestock in the Netherlands: comparing host preference and attack rates on a Shetland pony, a dairy cow, and a sheep
ABSTRACT
Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) host preferences and attack rates were quantified in early summer at a dairy farm in the Netherlands using livestock tethered at pasture. Midges were aspirated hourly over seven consecutive hours (17:00–23:00) from a dairy cow, a Shetland pony, and a sheep and correspondingly yielded seventeen, thirteen, and nine species. Of the 14,181 midges obtained, approximately 95% belonged to the C. obsoletus complex, C. dewulfi, C. chiopterus, and C. punctatus that together include all proven or potential vectors for arboviral diseases in livestock in northwestern Europe. On average, ...
Source: Journal of Vector Ecology - November 27, 2015 Category: Biology Authors: A.R.W. Elbers, R. Meiswinkel Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Comparative efficacy of existing surveillance tools for Aedes aegypti in Western Kenya
ABSTRACT
All traditional surveillance techniques for Aedes aegypti have been developed for the cosmopolitan domestic subspecies Ae. aegypti aegypti, and not the sylvatic subspecies, Ae. aegypti formosus. The predominant form in Western Kenya is Ae. aegypti formosus that is rarely associated with human habitations but is linked to transmission of sylvatic dengue virus strains. We compared five surveillance methods for their effectiveness in sampling Ae. aegypti formosus with the goal of determining a sustainable surveillance strategy in Kenya. The methods included larval and pupal surveys, oviposition trapping, BG‐Sentine...
Source: Journal of Vector Ecology - November 27, 2015 Category: Biology Authors: Sancto Yalwala, Jeffrey Clark, David Oullo, Daniel Ngonga, David Abuom, Elizabeth Wanja, Joshua Bast Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
