Hosts of Lutzomyia shannoni (Diptera: Psychodidae) in relation to vesicular stomatitis virus on Ossabaw Island, Georgia, U.S.A.

Abstract

Hosts of Lutzomyia shannoni Dyar, a suspected biological vector of the New Jersey serotype of vesicular stomatitis (VSNJ) virus, were determined using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of 333 blood-fed female sandflies collected from their diurnal resting shelters on Ossabaw Island, Georgia, U.S.A. Sandflies had fed primarily on white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) (81%) and to a lesser extent on feral swine (Sus scrofa) (16%), two species of host infected annually with VSNJ. Other hosts were raccoons (Procyon lotor) and horses (Equus caballus) or donkeys (E. asinus), with only two (< 1%) mixed bloodmeals from deer/raccoon and deer/swine. A larger proportion of feedings on feral swine was detected in maritime live oak forests than in mixed hardwood forests. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that L.shannoni is a primary vector of VSNJ virus on Ossabaw Island.

Apparent Disappearance of Vesicular Stomatitis New Jersey Virus from Ossabaw Island, Georgia

“…White-tailed deer accounted for 97% (34 of 35) of the species-identified blood-meals; the remaining blood-meal was of swine origin (1 of 35, 3%). The percentage of identified blood-meals from deer (97%) was higher than what was previously reported during 1994 (81%) (Comer et al 1994). In contrast, the percentage of blood-meals from swine decreased from 16% in 1993 (Comer et al 1994) to 3% in 2006.…”

“…The percentage of identified blood-meals from deer (97%) was higher than what was previously reported during 1994 (81%) (Comer et al 1994). In contrast, the percentage of blood-meals from swine decreased from 16% in 1993 (Comer et al 1994) to 3% in 2006. The majority (34/35) of the blood-meals that were identified came from sand flies captured in the mixed hardwood forest type.…”

“…White-tailed deer are still the primary hosts for sand flies (97%), but there has been an obvious reduction in utilization of feral swine for blood-meals (16% in 1993 to 3% in 2006) (Comer et al 1994). We believe that this change is related to the feral swine population declines related to removal efforts established by DNR in the late 1990s.…”

New Means of Canine Leishmaniasis Transmission in North America: The Possibility of Transmission to Humans Still Unknown

“…There has only been one substantial study looking at the feeding preferences of Lu. shannoni in the US [18]. This study was performed on a largely uninhabited barrier island off Georgia and did not find dogs to be a primary food source, but this was most likely because there were very few dogs present on the island.…”

First Collection Records of Phlebotomine Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) From New Jersey

“…Oviposition and larval development occur in cryptic habitats (crevices, burrows, tree holes) rich in organic detritus (Rosabal and Miller 1970). This species feeds on large warmblooded hosts, including deer, swine, and humans (Comer et al 1994).…”