First report of West Nile virus in mosquitoes from Lubbock County, Texas

Carrie M Bradford; Marc A Nascarella; Teresa H Burns; John R Montford; Eric J Marsland; Christopher B Pepper; Steven M Presley

doi:10.2987/8756-971X(2005)21[102:FROWNV]2.0.CO;2

First report of West Nile virus in mosquitoes from Lubbock County, Texas

J Am Mosq Control Assoc. 2005 Mar;21(1):102-5. doi: 10.2987/8756-971X(2005)21[102:FROWNV]2.0.CO;2.

Authors

Carrie M Bradford¹, Marc A Nascarella, Teresa H Burns, John R Montford, Eric J Marsland, Christopher B Pepper, Steven M Presley

Affiliation

¹ The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Department of Environmental Toxicology, Texas Tech University, Box 41163, Lubbock, TX 79409-1163, USA.

PMID: 15825772
DOI: 10.2987/8756-971X(2005)21[102:FROWNV]2.0.CO;2

Abstract

Since July 2002, ongoing surveillance efforts have been conducted to determine potential vectors of West Nile virus (WNV) and Saint Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) in the mosquito population occurring in Lubbock County, Texas. Adult mosquitoes collected in Lubbock County during 2002 and 2003 represented 7 genera, with Culex tarsalis and Ochlerotatus sollicitans being the predominant species collected. Mosquitoes were initially screened for WNV and SLEV by using the VecTest antigen panel assay. Positive VecTest results were confirmed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. West Nile virus-positive pools of mosquitoes were detected in 2002 and 2003, with the majority of the positive pools consisting of Cx. tarsalis. None of the mosquito pools tested positive for SLEV.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Culex / virology
Culicidae / virology*
Encephalitis Virus, St. Louis
Ochlerotatus / virology
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Texas
West Nile virus*