Serosurvey of WNV in Tucson Passerines
Our serosurveys for WNV has begun! This summer we have begun trapping around Tucson, setting up both mist nets to catch birds and CO2 traps to catch mosquitoes.
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 Tucson, AZ
We are conducting passive trapping and testing of the mosquito species known to carry West Nile Virus (WNV) around different locations in Tucson, Arizona.
Dr. Combrink and I are joining forces with a public health student and "disease hunters" from the CDC to understand the ecology of Sin Nombre hantavirus in Tucson, Arizona.
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.