The expansion of the tiger mosquito, a vector that can transmit diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika virus, poses a growing threat to global health. This study focuses on the entomological surveillance of Kastellorizo, a remote Greek island affected by its expansion. This research employs a multifaceted approach, combining KAP survey (knowledge, attitude, practices), mosquito collection using adult traps and human landing catches, and morphological and molecular identification methods.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: After the unprecedented Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak in the western hemisphere from 2015-2018, Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus are now well established primary and secondary ZIKV vectors, respectively. Consensus about identification and importance of other secondary ZIKV vectors remain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVector Borne Zoonotic Dis
March 2023
Entomological monitoring activities are a major part of mosquito and mosquito-borne diseases surveillance. Several trapping methods are implemented worldwide, aiming to gather data on species composition and their abundance in various study areas. Several methodological modifications, such as trapping systems baited with attractants or carbon dioxide, have been proposed to increase trap efficiency.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWild rabbits () can be important sentinel species for the presence of zoonotic pathogens. Therefore, we collected blood samples from wild rabbits harvested by hunters during the hunting season 2019-2020 on the island of Lemnos, to determine exposure of wild rabbits to the zoonotic pathogens , , and , as well as aqueous humor to assess its diagnostic performance in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios. Antibodies against these pathogens were detected by Indirect Immunofluorescence Antibody (IFA) assay.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWest Nile virus (WNV) threatens the health of humans and equines worldwide. () complex mosquitoes are major vectors but numerous other species have been implicated. Due to variations in blood-feeding behaviour, biotypes and hybrids influence transmission, from enzootic cycles (between mosquitoes and birds), to spill-over transmission to humans and equines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Culicoides obsoletus is an abundant and widely distributed Holarctic biting midge species, involved in the transmission of bluetongue virus (BTV) and Schmallenberg virus (SBV) to wild and domestic ruminants. Females of this vector species are often reported jointly with two morphologically very close species, C. scoticus and C.
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