Frequency of sugar feeding and blood feeding can have an impact on the infection by and transmiss... more Frequency of sugar feeding and blood feeding can have an impact on the infection by and transmission of malaria parasites. Data presented here indicate that frequent blood feeding has a deleterious effect on infection by malaria parasites in Aedes aegypti. In addition, mosquitoes that do not blood feed, but instead feed on sugar alone after an infected blood meal, have a higher rate of parasite transmission than mosquitoes fed additional blood meals.
Probing mosquitoes salivate before ingesting blood, and malaria sporozoites are transmitted durin... more Probing mosquitoes salivate before ingesting blood, and malaria sporozoites are transmitted during this phase of feeding. Large and small Aedes aegypti infected with Plasmodium gallinaceum were allowed to probe briefly on a series of 3 naive chicks. Large mosquitoes were more infective overall, but there was no difference in the ability of either size class to infect the first host. Large mosquitoes were more likely than small mosquitoes to infect more than one host during serial feeding.
Mosquitoes salivate before ingesting blood, and sporozoites are transmitted during this phase of ... more Mosquitoes salivate before ingesting blood, and sporozoites are transmitted during this phase of feeding. In the laboratory, malaria-infected Aedes aegypti were allowed to probe on a series of three chicks during a 5-min period. Probing on each host was interrupted after 10 s. Our results demonstrate that up to three hosts can be serially infected with avian malaria during a 5-min period.
The Richmond County Mosquito Control program's mission statement is to incorporate strategies... more The Richmond County Mosquito Control program's mission statement is to incorporate strategies of integrated mosquito control management that are effective, practical, and environmentally safe and protect the health of Richmond County residents, as well as promote public education, in order to prevent large mosquito populations and the diseases that they transmit. To this end, the program coordinates efforts with other county agencies in order to provide better service. This is a small program with limited resources, so in an effort to provide better integrated mosquito management, the mosquito control program and the Phinizy Center for Water Sciences joined efforts to trap mosquitoes at sites across the county, identify the species, and send the mosquitoes off for viral testing. These data help determine locations of disease-carrying mosquitoes so the county can more efficiently control the mosquito populations and reduce the risk of West Nile virus transmission.
Zika virus (ZIKV) was declared an international public health emergency by the World Health Organ... more Zika virus (ZIKV) was declared an international public health emergency by the World Health Organization on February 1, 2016. Due to the known and estimated range of the ZIKV mosquito vectors, southern and central US states faced increased risk of ZIKV transmission. With the state of Georgia hosting the world's busiest international airport, a climate that supports the ZIKV vectors, and limited surveillance (13 counties) and response capacity, the Department of Public Health (DPH) was challenged to respond and prevent ZIKV transmission. This case study describes and evaluates the state's surveillance capacity before and after the declaration of ZIKV as a public health emergency. We analyzed surveillance data from the DPH to compare the geographical distribution of counties conducting surveillance, total number, and overall percentage of mosquito species trapped in 2015 to 2016. Counties conducting surveillance before and after the identification of the ZIKV risk were mapped ...
Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association
Onsite assessments for mosquito larval habitat sites are critical after a hurricane makes landfal... more Onsite assessments for mosquito larval habitat sites are critical after a hurricane makes landfall. Due to lack of forward assessment activities and the uncertain path of Hurricane Irma, it was difficult to determine what areas would be most affected, making it challenging to determine the availability of Department of Public Health Environmental Health Strike Team members from unaffected areas. However, lessons learned from assessing the public health response to Hurricane Irma (2017) helped improve the response to Hurricane Michael (2018).
ObjectiveTo describe the Georgia Department of Public Health’s (DPH)mosquito surveillance capacit... more ObjectiveTo describe the Georgia Department of Public Health’s (DPH)mosquito surveillance capacity before and after Zika virus wasdeclared a public health emergency, review and compare mosquitosurveillance results from 2015 to 2016, and evaluate the risk ofautochthonous vector transmission of Zika virus based on 2016surveillance data ofAedes aegyptiandAedes albopictusmosquitoes.IntroductionZika virus was declared an international public health emergencyby the World Health Organization on February 1, 2016. WithGeorgia hosting the world’s busiest international airport and a sub-tropical climate that can support the primary Zika virus vector,Aedesaegypti,and secondary vector, Aedes albopictus,the CDC designatedGeorgia as a high risk state for vector transmission. Faced with alack of mosquito surveillance data to evaluate risk of autochthonoustransmission and a few counties statewide that provide comprehensivemosquito control, the DPH rapidly scaled up a response. DPH updatedexisting mo...
ObjectiveTo describe the Georgia Department of Public Health’s (DPH)mosquito surveillance capacit... more ObjectiveTo describe the Georgia Department of Public Health’s (DPH)mosquito surveillance capacity before and after Zika virus wasdeclared a public health emergency, review and compare mosquitosurveillance results from 2015 to 2016, and evaluate the risk ofautochthonous vector transmission of Zika virus based on 2016surveillance data ofAedes aegyptiandAedes albopictusmosquitoes.IntroductionZika virus was declared an international public health emergencyby the World Health Organization on February 1, 2016. WithGeorgia hosting the world’s busiest international airport and a sub-tropical climate that can support the primary Zika virus vector,Aedesaegypti,and secondary vector, Aedes albopictus,the CDC designatedGeorgia as a high risk state for vector transmission. Faced with alack of mosquito surveillance data to evaluate risk of autochthonoustransmission and a few counties statewide that provide comprehensivemosquito control, the DPH rapidly scaled up a response. DPH updatedexisting mo...
ABSTRACT Background/Question/Methods West Nile virus (WNV), the most widespread arboviral pathoge... more ABSTRACT Background/Question/Methods West Nile virus (WNV), the most widespread arboviral pathogen in the US, is associated with urban environments in the South-Eastern US. Potential drivers of this association (land-use land-cover, socio-economic characteristics, and larval habitat availability and quality) vary across the rural-urban gradient, as well as within urban areas. Our objective is to disentangle the effects of these drivers in order to explain the spatial variation of WNV transmission risk across metropolitan Atlanta, GA. First, using mesocosm experiments, we elucidate the effects of water quality on the productivity of Culex quinquefasciatus larval habitats. We then use mosquito surveillance, remote sensing and publicly available datasets at frequently sampled sites to incorporate land-use land-cover and socio-economic conditions into a single geospatial analysis of WNV transmission risk. We extend the list of predictors, through field surveys, with forest structure, composition and configuration data, that we use as an indirect measure of avian community competence. Finally, we incorporate stream water quality predictions obtained through artificial neural network models, based on observed water quality and land-use land-cover characteristics at the watershed level. Results/Conclusions Preliminary results of our mesocosm experiments show that water quality characteristics commonly observed in streams are sufficient for the development and survival of Culex quinquefasciatus larvae, and enable the persistence of mosquito populations. In particular, combinations of nitrogen and phosphorus create optimal conditions in these habitats. Preliminary results of our geospatial analysis suggest that West Nile virus transmission risk is highly clustered within metropolitan Atlanta, and significantly varies across the city with both land-use land-cover and socio-economic characteristics. In particular, decreased forest cover and low socio-economic status interact to produce the conditions conducive for increased mosquito abundance and West Nile virus transmission risk. Our results have broad implications for other large metropolitan areas across the Southeastern US where Culex quinquefasciatus is the major vector of WNV.
Combined sewer systems treat and dispose of water from combined waste and storm water sources. Du... more Combined sewer systems treat and dispose of water from combined waste and storm water sources. During times of heavy rainfall, minimally treated water is released into associated streams adding organically- polluted waters to the stream system. Culex quinquefas- ciatus, the primary West Nile virus vector in Georgia, thrives in organically-polluted waters. Surveillance data suggest that the presence of combined sewer systems should be considered a risk factor for West Nile virus in- fection in humans.
Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association, 2015
In September, October, and November 2014, adult Mansonia titillans were collected at 4 separate s... more In September, October, and November 2014, adult Mansonia titillans were collected at 4 separate sites near Savannah in Chatham County, Georgia, and 1 site in Muscogee County, GA, during routine mosquito surveillance. Although previously recorded from Beaufort County, SC, and several inland southern Georgia counties, recent reports of this species from coastal Georgia or South Carolina are lacking. These newly captured Ma. titillans specimens represent the first documented records for Muscogee County and Chatham County, GA, and may indicate a recent northern expansion or reintroduction of this species along the Georgia and South Carolina coast.
Frequency of sugar feeding and blood feeding can have an impact on the infection by and transmiss... more Frequency of sugar feeding and blood feeding can have an impact on the infection by and transmission of malaria parasites. Data presented here indicate that frequent blood feeding has a deleterious effect on infection by malaria parasites in Aedes aegypti. In addition, mosquitoes that do not blood feed, but instead feed on sugar alone after an infected blood meal, have a higher rate of parasite transmission than mosquitoes fed additional blood meals.
Probing mosquitoes salivate before ingesting blood, and malaria sporozoites are transmitted durin... more Probing mosquitoes salivate before ingesting blood, and malaria sporozoites are transmitted during this phase of feeding. Large and small Aedes aegypti infected with Plasmodium gallinaceum were allowed to probe briefly on a series of 3 naive chicks. Large mosquitoes were more infective overall, but there was no difference in the ability of either size class to infect the first host. Large mosquitoes were more likely than small mosquitoes to infect more than one host during serial feeding.
Mosquitoes salivate before ingesting blood, and sporozoites are transmitted during this phase of ... more Mosquitoes salivate before ingesting blood, and sporozoites are transmitted during this phase of feeding. In the laboratory, malaria-infected Aedes aegypti were allowed to probe on a series of three chicks during a 5-min period. Probing on each host was interrupted after 10 s. Our results demonstrate that up to three hosts can be serially infected with avian malaria during a 5-min period.
The Richmond County Mosquito Control program's mission statement is to incorporate strategies... more The Richmond County Mosquito Control program's mission statement is to incorporate strategies of integrated mosquito control management that are effective, practical, and environmentally safe and protect the health of Richmond County residents, as well as promote public education, in order to prevent large mosquito populations and the diseases that they transmit. To this end, the program coordinates efforts with other county agencies in order to provide better service. This is a small program with limited resources, so in an effort to provide better integrated mosquito management, the mosquito control program and the Phinizy Center for Water Sciences joined efforts to trap mosquitoes at sites across the county, identify the species, and send the mosquitoes off for viral testing. These data help determine locations of disease-carrying mosquitoes so the county can more efficiently control the mosquito populations and reduce the risk of West Nile virus transmission.
Zika virus (ZIKV) was declared an international public health emergency by the World Health Organ... more Zika virus (ZIKV) was declared an international public health emergency by the World Health Organization on February 1, 2016. Due to the known and estimated range of the ZIKV mosquito vectors, southern and central US states faced increased risk of ZIKV transmission. With the state of Georgia hosting the world's busiest international airport, a climate that supports the ZIKV vectors, and limited surveillance (13 counties) and response capacity, the Department of Public Health (DPH) was challenged to respond and prevent ZIKV transmission. This case study describes and evaluates the state's surveillance capacity before and after the declaration of ZIKV as a public health emergency. We analyzed surveillance data from the DPH to compare the geographical distribution of counties conducting surveillance, total number, and overall percentage of mosquito species trapped in 2015 to 2016. Counties conducting surveillance before and after the identification of the ZIKV risk were mapped ...
Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association
Onsite assessments for mosquito larval habitat sites are critical after a hurricane makes landfal... more Onsite assessments for mosquito larval habitat sites are critical after a hurricane makes landfall. Due to lack of forward assessment activities and the uncertain path of Hurricane Irma, it was difficult to determine what areas would be most affected, making it challenging to determine the availability of Department of Public Health Environmental Health Strike Team members from unaffected areas. However, lessons learned from assessing the public health response to Hurricane Irma (2017) helped improve the response to Hurricane Michael (2018).
ObjectiveTo describe the Georgia Department of Public Health’s (DPH)mosquito surveillance capacit... more ObjectiveTo describe the Georgia Department of Public Health’s (DPH)mosquito surveillance capacity before and after Zika virus wasdeclared a public health emergency, review and compare mosquitosurveillance results from 2015 to 2016, and evaluate the risk ofautochthonous vector transmission of Zika virus based on 2016surveillance data ofAedes aegyptiandAedes albopictusmosquitoes.IntroductionZika virus was declared an international public health emergencyby the World Health Organization on February 1, 2016. WithGeorgia hosting the world’s busiest international airport and a sub-tropical climate that can support the primary Zika virus vector,Aedesaegypti,and secondary vector, Aedes albopictus,the CDC designatedGeorgia as a high risk state for vector transmission. Faced with alack of mosquito surveillance data to evaluate risk of autochthonoustransmission and a few counties statewide that provide comprehensivemosquito control, the DPH rapidly scaled up a response. DPH updatedexisting mo...
ObjectiveTo describe the Georgia Department of Public Health’s (DPH)mosquito surveillance capacit... more ObjectiveTo describe the Georgia Department of Public Health’s (DPH)mosquito surveillance capacity before and after Zika virus wasdeclared a public health emergency, review and compare mosquitosurveillance results from 2015 to 2016, and evaluate the risk ofautochthonous vector transmission of Zika virus based on 2016surveillance data ofAedes aegyptiandAedes albopictusmosquitoes.IntroductionZika virus was declared an international public health emergencyby the World Health Organization on February 1, 2016. WithGeorgia hosting the world’s busiest international airport and a sub-tropical climate that can support the primary Zika virus vector,Aedesaegypti,and secondary vector, Aedes albopictus,the CDC designatedGeorgia as a high risk state for vector transmission. Faced with alack of mosquito surveillance data to evaluate risk of autochthonoustransmission and a few counties statewide that provide comprehensivemosquito control, the DPH rapidly scaled up a response. DPH updatedexisting mo...
ABSTRACT Background/Question/Methods West Nile virus (WNV), the most widespread arboviral pathoge... more ABSTRACT Background/Question/Methods West Nile virus (WNV), the most widespread arboviral pathogen in the US, is associated with urban environments in the South-Eastern US. Potential drivers of this association (land-use land-cover, socio-economic characteristics, and larval habitat availability and quality) vary across the rural-urban gradient, as well as within urban areas. Our objective is to disentangle the effects of these drivers in order to explain the spatial variation of WNV transmission risk across metropolitan Atlanta, GA. First, using mesocosm experiments, we elucidate the effects of water quality on the productivity of Culex quinquefasciatus larval habitats. We then use mosquito surveillance, remote sensing and publicly available datasets at frequently sampled sites to incorporate land-use land-cover and socio-economic conditions into a single geospatial analysis of WNV transmission risk. We extend the list of predictors, through field surveys, with forest structure, composition and configuration data, that we use as an indirect measure of avian community competence. Finally, we incorporate stream water quality predictions obtained through artificial neural network models, based on observed water quality and land-use land-cover characteristics at the watershed level. Results/Conclusions Preliminary results of our mesocosm experiments show that water quality characteristics commonly observed in streams are sufficient for the development and survival of Culex quinquefasciatus larvae, and enable the persistence of mosquito populations. In particular, combinations of nitrogen and phosphorus create optimal conditions in these habitats. Preliminary results of our geospatial analysis suggest that West Nile virus transmission risk is highly clustered within metropolitan Atlanta, and significantly varies across the city with both land-use land-cover and socio-economic characteristics. In particular, decreased forest cover and low socio-economic status interact to produce the conditions conducive for increased mosquito abundance and West Nile virus transmission risk. Our results have broad implications for other large metropolitan areas across the Southeastern US where Culex quinquefasciatus is the major vector of WNV.
Combined sewer systems treat and dispose of water from combined waste and storm water sources. Du... more Combined sewer systems treat and dispose of water from combined waste and storm water sources. During times of heavy rainfall, minimally treated water is released into associated streams adding organically- polluted waters to the stream system. Culex quinquefas- ciatus, the primary West Nile virus vector in Georgia, thrives in organically-polluted waters. Surveillance data suggest that the presence of combined sewer systems should be considered a risk factor for West Nile virus in- fection in humans.
Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association, 2015
In September, October, and November 2014, adult Mansonia titillans were collected at 4 separate s... more In September, October, and November 2014, adult Mansonia titillans were collected at 4 separate sites near Savannah in Chatham County, Georgia, and 1 site in Muscogee County, GA, during routine mosquito surveillance. Although previously recorded from Beaufort County, SC, and several inland southern Georgia counties, recent reports of this species from coastal Georgia or South Carolina are lacking. These newly captured Ma. titillans specimens represent the first documented records for Muscogee County and Chatham County, GA, and may indicate a recent northern expansion or reintroduction of this species along the Georgia and South Carolina coast.
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Papers by Rosmarie Kelly