Location: Mosquito and Fly Research
Project Number: 6036-32000-052-106-R
Project Type: Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Nov 17, 2022
End Date: Dec 31, 2024
Objective:
To evaluate the efficacy of high-resolution imagery to detect key environmental conditions prior to vector-transmitted Zika and plague.
Approach:
Hypothesis: High-resolution imagery can detect specific unique environmental conditions that are needed prior to the transmission Zika virus and plague bacillus to animals and humans.
Experimental Design: We are proposing to generate presence or absence data on the parameters listed above. These data could be used to develop models to address key parameters related to disease occurrence or absence that could be measured with high-resolution imagery.
Develop and conduct ground truth entomological field studies such as described on the following general topics:
a) Detection and mapping of flooded and non-flooded RVF reservoir and secondary mosquito habitats in endemic and non-endemic areas. Flooding of these habitats leads to start of RVF zoonotics.
b) Comparing and mapping Aedes aegypti microhabitats in mosquito colonized and non-colonized neighborhoods in Florida, California, and Thailand. Presence of habitats leads to colonization of Ae. aegypti and potential Stegomyia transmitted disease transmission.
c) Mapping ground squirrel/flea habitats in plague endemic habitats in California to determine habitats that are suitable for host, vector and pathogens.
Collaborations: Research will be performed in a joint project between scientists and technicians from USDA-ARS CMAVE in various field sites where disease is endemic and the Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies who will acquire and analyze high-resolution imagery. USDA-ARS CMAVE has access to numerous field sites in the U.S., Kenya and Thailand that can be monitored and mapped. Staff at MFRU-CMAVE have a long history of conducting mosquito and flea monitoring.
