Since was discovered in 2011 in the San Gabriel Valley it has become widespread despite the "harsh" environmental conditions and intense efforts to control or eliminate it. Species introduced into a new area may survive, thrive, or disappear depending on whether its new environment is suitable. The San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District expended considerable resources from 2011 to 2015 to eradicate this invasive species or, at a minimum, control and manage its spread.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn southern California, ocular infections caused by Onchocerca lupi were diagnosed in 3 dogs (1 in 2006, 2 in 2012). The infectious agent was confirmed through morphologic analysis of fixed parasites in tissues and by PCR and sequencing of amplicons derived from 2 mitochondrially encoded genes and 1 nuclear-encoded gene. A nested PCR based on the sequence of the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 gene of the parasite was developed and used to screen Simulium black flies collected from southern California for O.
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