Geospatial Analysis and Seasonal Distribution of West Nile Virus Vectors (Diptera: Culicidae) in Southern Ontario, Canada

Bryan V. Giordano, Kevin W. Turner and Fiona F. Hunter
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Bryan V. Giordano: Centre for Biotechnology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada
Kevin W. Turner: Department of Geography and Tourism Studies, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada
Fiona F. Hunter: Centre for Biotechnology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-18

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to establish geospatial and seasonal distributions of West Nile virus vectors in southern Ontario, Canada using historical surveillance data from 2002 to 2014. We set out to produce mosquito abundance prediction surfaces for each of Ontario’s thirteen West Nile virus vectors. We also set out to determine whether elevation and proximity to conservation areas and provincial parks, wetlands, and population centres could be used to improve our model. Our results indicated that the data sets for Anopheles quadrimaculatus , Anopheles punctipennis , Anopheles walkeri , Culex salinarius , Culex tarsalis , Ochlerotatus stimulans , and Ochlerotatus triseriatus were not suitable for geospatial modelling because they are randomly distributed throughout Ontario. Spatial prediction surfaces were created for Aedes japonicus and proximity to wetlands, Aedes vexans and proximity to population centres, Culex pipiens / restuans and proximity to population centres, Ochlerotatus canadensis and elevation, and Ochlerotatus trivittatus and proximity to population centres using kriging. Seasonal distributions are presented for all thirteen species. We have identified both when and where vector species are most abundant in southern Ontario. These data have the potential to contribute to a more efficient and focused larvicide program and West Nile virus awareness campaigns.

Keywords: West Nile virus; Ontario; Canada; mosquito; biogeography; vector; Aedes; Anopheles; Culex; Ochlerotatus (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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