Mapping West Nile Virus Risk in Spokane: Mosquito Breeding Sites and Blood Meal Analysis
Faculty Mentor
Krisztian Magori
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
May 2025
End Date
May 2025
Location
PUB NCR
Primary Discipline of Presentation
Biology
Abstract
Mosquitoes in the genus Culex are the primary vectors of West Nile virus (WNV), a mosquito-borne disease responsible for thousands of cases annually in the United States. Infected individuals can develop meningitis, encephalitis, or in severe cases, die from the disease. WNV was first detected in Washington State in 2005, with a rise in reported cases among humans and horses in Spokane County by 2016. In recent years, WNV-positive mosquitoes have been found in parts of Spokane, where they acquire the virus by feeding on infected birds and can transmit it to humans during subsequent blood meals. This study aims to (1) characterize the proportion of Culex mosquitoes feeding on birds, mammals, and humans; (2) assess how host community composition influences mosquito feeding preferences; and (3) assess seasonal shifts in feeding behavior. We will sample mosquitoes from 320 catch basins across four geographic regions in Spokane. At each location, blood-fed adult mosquitoes will be collected using gravid traps. Collected mosquitoes will briefly be stored in a -80C freezer, then analyzed simultaneously using DNA extraction and multiplex PCR to identify blood meal sources. Host availability at each site will be estimated through five minute point counts of birds, mammals, and humans within a 50-meter radius. By linking mosquito blood meal sources to host presence, this research will provide insights into WNV transmission dynamics and help identify periods of elevated human risk. The findings will contribute to more targeted mosquito surveillance and guide public health intervention strategies in the region.
Recommended Citation
Sonoiki, Oluwapelumi Hannah, "Mapping West Nile Virus Risk in Spokane: Mosquito Breeding Sites and Blood Meal Analysis" (2025). 2025 Symposium. 33.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2025/ps_2025/p2_2025/33
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Mapping West Nile Virus Risk in Spokane: Mosquito Breeding Sites and Blood Meal Analysis
PUB NCR
Mosquitoes in the genus Culex are the primary vectors of West Nile virus (WNV), a mosquito-borne disease responsible for thousands of cases annually in the United States. Infected individuals can develop meningitis, encephalitis, or in severe cases, die from the disease. WNV was first detected in Washington State in 2005, with a rise in reported cases among humans and horses in Spokane County by 2016. In recent years, WNV-positive mosquitoes have been found in parts of Spokane, where they acquire the virus by feeding on infected birds and can transmit it to humans during subsequent blood meals. This study aims to (1) characterize the proportion of Culex mosquitoes feeding on birds, mammals, and humans; (2) assess how host community composition influences mosquito feeding preferences; and (3) assess seasonal shifts in feeding behavior. We will sample mosquitoes from 320 catch basins across four geographic regions in Spokane. At each location, blood-fed adult mosquitoes will be collected using gravid traps. Collected mosquitoes will briefly be stored in a -80C freezer, then analyzed simultaneously using DNA extraction and multiplex PCR to identify blood meal sources. Host availability at each site will be estimated through five minute point counts of birds, mammals, and humans within a 50-meter radius. By linking mosquito blood meal sources to host presence, this research will provide insights into WNV transmission dynamics and help identify periods of elevated human risk. The findings will contribute to more targeted mosquito surveillance and guide public health intervention strategies in the region.
