Modeling Avian Hotspots of Potential West Nile Virus Outbreaks in Arizona
As the climate changes, will the habitat of West Nile Virus (WNV) vectors and hosts change with it? We are using field and laboratory work to develop a spatially-explicit predictive model to predict these habitat changes.
Culex mosquito surveillance and testing in Coconino County, AZ
As the cooler northern regions of Arizona begin to experience temperature increases/extreme weather patterns due to anthropogenic climate change, the habitats of the vectors of disease will experience disruption, leading to changes in their distributions.
Recent studies have found that crocodilians, can obtain seroprevalence amplification to levels that make them competent West Nile Virus hosts. Climate change could increase this transmission risk by shifting the mosquito habitat towards new locations.
One Health Investigation into Mpox and Pets, United States
During July 2022–March 2023, we collected animal and environmental swab samples within homes of confirmed human mpox case-patients and tested for MPXV and human DNA by PCR. We found no indications that companion animals were infected with MPXV.