Project MOSI: rationale and pilot‐study results of an initiative to help protect zoo animals from mosquito‐transmitted pathogens and contribute data on mosquito spatio–temporal distribution change

Abstract

Mosquito-borne pathogens pose major threats to both wildlife and human health and, largely as a result of unintentional human-aided dispersal of their vector species, their cumulative threat is on the rise. Anthropogenic climate change is expected to be an increasingly significant driver of mosquito dispersal and associated disease spread. The potential health implications of changes in the spatio-temporal distribution of mosquitoes highlight the importance of ongoing surveillance and, where necessary, vector control and other health-management measures. The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums initiative, Project MOSI, was established to help protect vulnerable wildlife species in zoological facilities from mosquito-transmitted pathogens by establishing a zoo-based network of fixed mosquito monitoring sites to assist wildlife health management and contribute data on mosquito spatio-temporal distribution changes. A pilot study for Project MOSI is described here, including project rationale and results that confirm the feasibility of conducting basic standardized year-round mosquito trapping and monitoring in a zoo environment.Key-words: attractants; climate change; monitoring; mosquitoes; Project MOSI; surveillance; spatio-temporal distribution; wildlife health; zoological networks. MOSQUITO-RELATED HEALTH ISSUES FOR ZOOS AND SIMILAR FACILITIESMosquitoes are the principal vectors of a wide range of diseases, including human and avian malaria, dengue, West Nile encephalitis and filariasis (Becker et al., 2010; Kilpatrick & Randolph, 2012; World Health Organization, 2013a). A range of species has been recorded as succumbing to mosquito-transmitted pathogens in zoos and theme parks. Documented cases include African black-footed penguins Spheniscus demersus with avian malaria (Grim et al., 2004) and eastern equine encephalitis virus (Tuttle et al., 2005), Great gray owls Strix nebulosa with Usutu virus (Weissenböck et al., 2002), Humbolt penguins Spheiniscus humboldti with heartworms Dirofilaria immitis (Sano et al., 2005), and a Polar bear Ursus maritimus (Dutton et al., 2009) and two OrcasOrcinus orca with West Nile virus infection (Jett & Ventre, 2013).Blood-feeding mosquitoes have the ability to track airborne chemicals produced by the vertebrate host to locate them in order to have a blood meal, which is essential for viable egg production in most species (Dekker & Cardé, 2011). The combination of odours varies amongst species and mosquitoes can be more or less attracted to them depending on their feeding preference, even if, at close range, proximity to the host is likely to be more important than species identity (Takken & Verhulst, 2013). Several mosquito species are true 'generalists' as far as host species preference is concerned.Understanding distribution, population abundance, activity periods and other behaviours of mosquito species helps optimize protection efforts for human, domestic-animal and wildlife 3 populations (Becker et al., 2010; World Health Organization, 2013a). Monitoring an...

Field-based assessments of the seasonality of Culex pipiens sensu lato in England: an important enzootic vector of Usutu and West Nile viruses

“…Zoological gardens (here referred to as ‘zoos’) are important sites of entomological surveillance and research [ 15 – 17 ]. As unique environments in which native and non-native species of animals coexist, they can facilitate interactions among hosts and pathogens of potential importance to animal and human health [ 8 , 18 ].…”

Introduction to Avian Challenges

“…For example, Quintavalle Pastorino et al . (in press) describe the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) Mosquito Surveillance Initiative Project (MOSI) and the results of its pilot study, which confirm the feasibility of conducting standardized year‐round mosquito monitoring in zoological institutions and the kind of unexpected findings that can be derived from global networking.…”