Assessing Aedes aegypti survival in the Sonoran Desert region

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

10:40 AM – 11:00 AM PT

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Meeting Room 215/216

Presenting Author(s)

Michael Riehle

Professor
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona

Co-author(s)

TJ

Teresa Joy

University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona

Co-Author(s)

KE

Kacey Ernst

University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona

Co-author(s)

DG

Dawn Gouge

University of Arizona
Maricopa, Arizona

Co-Author(s)

Yves Carrière

Professor
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
KW

Kathleen R. Walker

University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona

The Sonoran Desert Region encompasses southern Arizona, southeastern California and Sonora, Mexico and is an emerging area of concern for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and the arboviruses they transmit. We have assessed the age structure of Ae. aegypti populations throughout this region using a variety of age grading tools including parity analysis, transcript expression of age associated genes and, most recently, near-infrared spectrophotometry (NIRS). This work will explore the importance of understanding changes in the population age structure, particularly during the monsoon season when mosquito populations dramatically increase. We will also examine the tools currently available, their limitations and our future needs. Finally, we will examine our current understanding of Ae. aegypti age structures in the Sonoran Desert and how improving our understanding of mosquito survival can potentially help us predict outbreaks of important mosquito borne viruses, including dengue, Zika and Chikungunya viruses.