AI Article Synopsis
- Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) is a mosquito-borne virus that primarily circulates among birds and can cause serious illness in humans and horses.
- A study in Alabama from 2001 to 2009 analyzed which birds mosquitoes were feeding on to understand EEEV transmission patterns.
- Findings revealed that the northern cardinal was a key host for the main EEEV vector, while other birds like the American robin and barred owl were important for another mosquito species that could bridge the virus to humans.
Article Abstract
Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) is a mosquito-borne pathogen that cycles in birds but also causes severe disease in humans and horses. We examined patterns of avian host use by vectors of EEEV in Alabama from 2001 to 2009 using blood-meal analysis of field-collected mosquitoes and avian abundance surveys. The northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) was the only preferred host (fed on significantly more than expected based on abundance) of Culiseta melanura, the enzootic vector of EEEV. Preferred hosts of Culex erraticus, a putative bridge vector of EEEV, were American robin (Turdus migratorius), Carolina chickadee (Poecile carolinensis), barred owl (Strix varia), and northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottis). Our results provide insight into the relationships between vectors of EEEV and their avian hosts in the Southeast and suggest that the northern cardinal may be important in the ecology of EEEV in this region.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3083738 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.2011.10-0586 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!