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  The CMCD has been actively participating in West Nile virus (WN) surveillance since the disease was first introduced to Florida during the summer of 2001. As part of this surveillance, the District is collaborating with the Florida Medical Entomological Laboratory (FMEL) in Vero Beach. The District will participate in the Arboviral Rapid Deployment System (ARDS), developed by FMEL, which is designed to confirm what species of mosquitoes are possibly the vectors for WN. The information from this study may also provide disease transmission rates and mosquito infection rates for WN.
ARDS relies on special traps that utilize a sentinel chicken to attract mosquitoes. The mosquitoes fly into the trap, in order feed on the chicken, and cannot escape. The mosquitoes and the chicken in the trap are collected daily. A new chicken is then placed in each trap. The mosquitoes caught in the trap are speciated, pooled, and tested for virus. A blood sample is taken from the chicken and tested for virus as well. If the chicken tests positive for WN, it is assumed that the mosquito that transmitted the virus to the chicken was collected in the trap. This mosquito should also test positive for the virus. This process will isolate what species of mosquito actually transmitted the disease to the chicken, which will provide information about the vectors for WN.
The data from this study will also provide FMEL with information regarding WN transmission rates and mosquito infection rates. The transmission and infection rates can be determined, using a mathematical calculation, by taking the number of chickens and mosquitoes that tested positive for WN during the study and comparing them to those that did not test positive. This information will help FMEL, as well as other mosquito control agencies and the Department of Health, to develop a better understanding of how quickly the virus can spread during the mosquito season. |
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