Author
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Barnard, Donald |
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Knue, Gregory |
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Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 2/9/2009 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: N/A Technical Abstract: Mosquitoes transmit blood-borne disease agents that cause morbidity and mortality in human and animal populations. Preemption of epidemics/epizootics of mosquito-borne disease is predicated on the timely and effective application of vector control. Such timing is decided on the basis of adult mosquito responses to mechanical traps placed in the environment. These responses are affected by habitat variables and endogenous cycles in mosquitoes, which in turn affect activity patterns and dispersion in the mosquito population. The interpretation of trap response data and the spatio-temporal depiction of such data by computerized mapping systems is based on an assumption that input data are complete and accurate, although no technique currently exists to account for false negative responses. Trap response data are similarly critical to surveillance systems that use statistical, geographic, and/or biological models to assess and/or predict disease transmission risk. The utility of such predictive models depends on the extent to which they output false positives. Yet other systematic and procedural effects influence the interpretation and depiction of spatio-temporal change in mosquito vector populations. Some of these include errors in fact, differences in scale, and the subjective nature of boundaries. |
