DOI: 10.5061/dryad.rjdfn2z6x
title: Patterns of mosquito and arbovirus community composition and ecological indexes of arboviral risk in the northeast United States

description: Background: In the northeast United States (U.S.), mosquitoes transmit a
 number of arboviruses, including eastern equine encephalitis, Jamestown
 Canyon, and West Nile that pose an annual threat to human and animal
 health. Local transmission of each virus may be driven by the involvement
 of multiple mosquito species; however, the specificity of these
 vector-virus associations has not been fully quantified. Methodology: We
 used long-term surveillance data consistently collected over 18 years to
 evaluate mosquito and arbovirus community composition in the State of
 Connecticut (CT) based on land cover classifications and mosquito
 species-specific natural histories using community ecology approaches
 available in the R package vegan. We then used binomial-error generalized
 linear mixed effects models (GLMMs) to quantify species-specific trends in
 arbovirus detections. Primary Results: The composition of
 mosquito communities throughout CT varied more among sites than among
 years, with variation in mosquito community composition among sites
 explained mostly by a forested-to-developed-land-cover gradient. Arboviral
 communities varied equally among sites and years, and only developed and
 forested wetland land cover classifications were associated with the
 composition of arbovirus detections among sites. Overall, the avian host
 arboviruses, mainly West Nile and eastern equine encephalitis viruses,
 displayed the most specific associations among species and sites, while in
 contrast, the mammalian host arboviruses (including Cache Valley,
 Jamestown Canyon, and Potosi viruses) associated with a more diverse mix
 of mosquito species and were widely distributed throughout CT.
 Conclusions: We find that avian arboviruses act as vector specialists
 infecting a few key mosquito species that associate with discrete
 habitats, while mammalian arboviruses are largely vector generalists
 infecting a wide diversity of mosquito species and habitats in the
 region. These distinctions have important implications for the
 design and implementation of mosquito and arbovirus surveillance programs
 as well as mosquito control efforts. 
description: This data was collected as a part of the Connecticut Agricultural
 Experiment Station's statewide mosquito and arbovirus surveillance
 efforts from 2001 to 2018. The data is restricted to mosquito collections
 and subsequent arbovirus detections obtained through the use of
 CO<sub>2</sub>-baited light traps and gravid traps at
 surveillance sites sampled in all years. Briefly, the data was analysed
 using Arc GIS, functions available in the R
 package <em>vegan, </em>and generalized linear mixed effects
 models. Please see the manuscript for specific methodologies and data
 restrictions.
description: To use this data set, someone would need working knowledge of
 ArcMap and R (or equivalent softwares); specific usage of each program is
 described in the associated manuscript. A solid foundation in disease
 ecology and statistical analyses is also recommended.