Mosquitoes in small urban spaces: identification of blood meals and flight distances of engorged females in the southern Great Plains of the United States.

Vector-borne disease transmission can only occur when host(s), vector(s), and pathogen(s) interact in a given environment. While many studies have focused on these interactions in large urban areas, there is a need for habitat-focused studies in small urban areas where human populations are often close to wildlife and livestock. The aim of the current study was to identify the bloodmeal sources of mosquitoes in a small urban area in the southern Great Plains of the United States.

Mosquito abundance, blood feeding, and West Nile virus infection in association with woody plant encroachment in the U.S. Great Plains.

Knowledge of the utilization by mosquito species of different habitats is critical for determining risk for the transmission of mosquito-borne pathogens. The Great Plains region of the United States is experiencing a biome-level change as grasslands are being converted to forests through the process of woody plant encroachment by eastern redcedar (ERC). There is a need to evaluate how mosquitoes respond to fine scale habitat characteristics within areas experiencing ERC encroachment.

Tick infestation of birds in grasslands experiencing woody plant encroachment in the United States Great Plains.

Woody plant encroachment is one of the largest threats to grasslands of the US Great Plains. Its spread, mainly due to fire suppression, affects entire ecosystems, including arthropod vectors, bird communities, and the ecology of vector-borne disease. Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana), one of the primary encroaching species in this region, is known to increase abundance of pathogen-carrying tick species such as Amblyomma americanum; however, the role birds play in carrying ticks in association with eastern redcedar encroachment is unknown.

and of Veterinary and Public Health Importance in Ticks Collected from Birds in the Great Plains of the United States.

As the incidence of tick-borne disease expands globally, comprehensive understanding of pathogen reservoir hosts is crucial to protect humans and wildlife. While many components are understood, there are gaps in our knowledge regarding the role of alternative, non-mammalian hosts such as birds. Within the United States, birds have been identified as reservoirs for and ; however, local studies rarely examine the potential of birds as reservoirs and transporters of -infected ticks, unlike studies in Europe and South America.

Tick Utilization of Eastern Redcedar Encroached Areas at the Individual Tree Scale in Oklahoma.

The Great Plains region is experiencing a biome-level conversion as grasslands are being rapidly encroached by eastern redcedar ( L.; ERC) which, in turn, causes abiotic and biotic changes throughout the region. These changes brought about by ERC encroachment are providing habitat for ticks and mosquitoes that increase the risk for vector-borne diseases.

Molecular Detection and Characterization of Rickettsia Species in Ixodid Ticks from Selected Regions of Namibia.

Rickettsial pathogens are among the emerging and re-emerging vector-borne zoonoses of public health importance. Reports indicate human exposure to Rickettsial pathogens in Namibia through serological surveys, but there is a lack of data on infection rates in tick vectors, hindering the assessment of the relative risk to humans. Our study sought to screen Ixodid ticks collected from livestock for the presence of species in order to determine infection rates in ticks and to determine the species circulating in the country.

Ecological Interactions of Predatory Mites, (Schrank) (Trombidiformes: Cheyletidae) and Oudemans, and Prey, (Pearman) (Psocodea: Liposcelididae), under Different Thermo-Hygrometric Regimes.

Predator-prey interactions are linked through trophic relationships, and individual population dynamics are a function of multiple interactions among many ecological factors. The present study considered the efficacy of the predatory mites (Schrank) (Trombidiformes: Cheyletidae) and Oudemans to manage (Pearman) (Psocodea: Liposcelididae). Prey population suppression and progeny replacement efficiency of the predators were assessed under different predator-prey ratios (0:20, 1:20, 2:20, 4:20, and 10:20), temperatures (20, 24, 28, and 32 °C), and relative humidities (RH) (63, 75, and 85%) over 40 days under laboratory conditions of 0:24 (L:D) photoperiod.

Factors influencing abundance of 3 tick species across a gradient of urban development intensity in the US Great Plains.

Urbanization alters abiotic conditions, vegetation, and wildlife populations in ways that affect tick abundance and tick-borne disease prevalence. Likely due to such changes, tick abundance has increased in many US urban areas. Despite growing public health importance of tick-borne diseases, little is known about how ticks are influenced by urbanization in North America, especially in the central United States where several pathogens occur at or near their highest incidences.

Rickettsia tillamookensis (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) in Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) in Oklahoma.

Some of the most prevalent arthropod-borne pathogens impacting humans in the United States are transmitted by Ixodes ticks. However, little is known regarding the Rickettsia species that inhabit Ixodes scapularis in the United States. The aim of this study was to screen adult I.

Numerical responses of the predatory mites, Cheyletus eruditus (Trombidiformes: Cheyletidae) and Cheyletus malaccensis, to Liposcelis decolor (Psocodea: Liposcelididae).

Predatory mites display diverse ecological mechanisms to suppress pest population density below certain thresholds known to cause economic loss. The current study explored the numerical responses of the predatory mites, Cheyletus eruditus (Schrank) (Trombidiformes: Cheyletidae) and Cheyletus malaccensis Oudemans, to Liposcelis decolor (Pearman) (Psocodea: Liposcelididae). The numerical responses of these 2 cheyletid mites to nymphs, adult males, and adult females of L.

Effects of woody plant encroachment by eastern redcedar on mosquito communities in Oklahoma.

Woody plant encroachment into grasslands is occurring worldwide, affecting ecosystems in ways that likely influence mosquito-borne disease transmission. In the U.S.

Prevalence of selected pathogens in ectoparasites from free-roaming domestic cats in the southern Great Plains of the United States.

Rickettsia sp. and Bartonella sp. were detected in ectoparasites of free-roaming domestic cats (Felis catus) from a trap-neuter-release program in central Oklahoma during January and February 2020.

Use of an exclusion assay to detect novel rickettsiae in field collected Amblyomma americanum.

In the south-central United States, several tick-borne diseases (TbDs) occur at or near their highest levels of incidence of anywhere in the U.S. The diversity of Rickettsia species found in Amblyomma americanum continues to be under-characterized in this region and throughout the U.

Seasonality of Ticks and Prevalence of Rickettsiae Species in Dermacentor variabilis and Amblyomma maculatum Across Oklahoma Pastures.

Tick-borne diseases are an increasing concern for people and companion animals in the United States, but there is a need for continued vigilance regarding livestock in pasture systems. The south-central United States has some of the highest incidences of tick-borne diseases, and there is a need to re-examine the ecology of tick vectors in relation to pasture systems and livestock. The objective of this study was to establish a baseline of seasonal activity for tick species in diverse regional Oklahoma pastures and screen for important pathogens in Dermacentor variabilis (Say) and Amblyomma maculatum Koch group that may impact livestock and human health.

Invasive woody plants as foci of tick-borne pathogens: eastern redcedar in the southern Great Plains.

Habitat preference and usage by disease vectors are directly correlated with landscapes often undergoing anthropogenic environmental change. A predominant type of land use change occurring in the United States is the expansion of native and non-native woody plant species in grasslands, but little is known regarding the impact of this expansion on regional vector-borne disease transmission. In this study, we focused on the impact of expanding eastern redcedar (; ERC) and tested two hypotheses involving relationships between habitat preferences of adult tick species in rural habitats in central Oklahoma.

Effect of Urbanization on Presence, Abundance, and Coinfection of Bacteria and Protozoa in Ticks in the US Great Plains.

Urbanization alters components of natural ecosystems which can affect tick abundance and tick-borne disease prevalence. Likely due to these changes, tick-borne pathogen prevalence has increased in many U.S.

Invasive Plants as Foci of Mosquito-Borne Pathogens: Red Cedar in the Southern Great Plains of the USA.

West Nile virus (WNV) is the most significant mosquito-borne disease affecting humans in the United States. Eastern redcedar (ERC) is a native encroaching plant in the southern Great Plains that greatly alters abiotic conditions and bird and mosquito populations. This study tested the hypotheses that mosquito communities and their likelihood of WNV infection differ between ERC and other habitats in the southern Great Plains of the United States.

College Students' Knowledge of Ticks in Oklahoma: Assessment and Insights.

Ticks (Arachnida: Acari) are common in Oklahoma and may transmit tick-borne diseases (TBDs) to people. Due to the difficulty in reducing tick populations, awareness of tick bite prevention, proper tick removal, and knowledge of when to seek medical treatment are critical. However, outreach and extension programs are hampered by a lack of knowledge of what community members know about ticks.

Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) with lateral flow detection for three Anaplasma species of importance to livestock health.

Anaplasma marginale, A. ovis, and A. phagocytophilum are the causative agents of bovine anaplasmosis, ovine anaplasmosis, and granulocytic anaplasmosis, respectively.

Effects of Dehumidification on the Survivorship of Four Psocid Species.

Psocids are damaging stored-product pests. In this study, eggs and early-instar nymphs, adults, and all life stages of Liposcelis entomophila, L. decolor, L.

Mosquito Community and West Nile Virus Risk on a National Guard Training Base in Oklahoma.

Military bases are important areas for mosquito surveillance to maintain active duty combat readiness and protect training exercises. The aim of this study was to assist Camp Gruber National Guard training facility personnel to assess their mosquito community and West Nile virus (WNV) risk using biweekly sampling of 50 sites. Between May and October 2018, 10,259 adult female mosquitoes consisting of 6 genera and 26 species were collected over 662 trap-nights using 2 trap types.

Mosquito-borne parasites in the Great Plains: searching for vectors of nematodes and avian malaria parasites.

Vector-borne diseases in the United States have recently increased as a result of the changing nature of vectors, hosts, reservoirs, parasite/pathogens, and the ecological and environmental conditions. While most focus has been on mosquito-borne pathogens affecting humans, little is known regarding parasites of companion animal, livestock and wildlife and their potential mosquito hosts in the United States. This study assessed the prevalence of mature infections of Dirofilaria immitis and avian malaria parasites (Haemosporida) within urban mosquito (Diptera, Culicidae) communities in Oklahoma.

Landscape and Anthropogenic Factors Associated with Adult and in Small Cities in the Southern Great Plains.

As mosquito-borne diseases are a growing human health concern in the United States, the distribution and potential arbovirus risk from container-breeding mosquitoes is understudied in the southern Great Plains. The aim of the study was to assess landscape and anthropogenic factors associated with encountering adult container-breeding mosquitoes in small cities in southern Oklahoma. Collections were carried out over a 10 week period from June to August 2017 along two geographical transects, each consisting of three cities, equally distant from the Red River/Texas border.