DOI: 10.5061/dryad.4r683v3
title: Data from: Linking the vectorial capacity of multiple vectors to observed patterns of West Nile virus transmission

description: 1. Theoretical models suggest that increased vector species participation
 in pathogen transmission significantly increases the prevalence of vector
 and host infections. However, there has been a lack of empirical evidence
 to support this. 2. We linked transmission potential of multiple vectors
 species to observed patterns of enzootic pathogen transmission by
 conducting longitudinal field surveillance of West Nile virus (WNv)
 infections in Culex spp. mosquitoes and avian host communities in the
 southeastern U.S. We then used a temperature-dependent vectorial capacity
 model as a predictor of WNv infections in mosquitoes and birds using
 general linear mixed effects models. 3. Two WNv-competent Culex spp.
 mosquitoes were present in our study sites, Culex restuans Theobald during
 the spring and Culex quinquefasciatus Say during the summer. Empirical
 evidence of WNv transmission was limited exclusively to time periods when
 night time temperatures were suitable for accelerated within-vector viral
 replication, susceptible avian hosts (i.e. hatch year birds) were
 abundant, and Culex quinquefasciatus was the primary Culex spp. vector in
 the mosquito community. 4. Contrary to theoretical predictions, increased
 presence of competent vector species through time did not significantly
 increase the prevalence of infections in the WNv enzootic system. 5.
 Synthesis and applications. We extend a commonly used theoretical
 framework to quantify transmission potential of vector-borne diseases, the
 vectorial capacity equation, to account for species-specific variations in
 temperature-dependent development and host feeding preference. By
 quantifying key vectorial capacity parameters using field data from
 southeast United States we quantified the relative contribution of two
 Culex spp. species (Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus and Culex restuans) to
 the transmission of West Nile virus (WNv). Our findings suggest that to
 reduce the risk of human exposure to WNv in urban environments, vector
 control should focus on the primary WNv vector, the members of the Culex
 pipiens complex. Additionally, vector control may be more effective if it
 coincides with the onset of the avian breeding season, when most WNv
 amplification occurs. Moreover, our results highlight relevant knowledge
 gaps pertaining to WNv transmission by secondary mosquito species that
 coexist either in time or space with Culex pipiens complex mosquitoes. A
 better understanding of secondary WNv vector species is greatly needed in
 order to appropriately gauge their role in pathogen transmission dynamics.
description: JRM_JAE_2018_data from
 publicationThe .zip file contains
 .csv data files corresponding to mosquito and West Nile virus surveillance
 in Atlanta, GA from 2014 to 2016. The data files are: 1) mosquito
 collections from catch basins in urban parks, 2) estimates of West Nile
 virus (WNv) infections in mosquito populations throughout Atlanta, 3) WNv
 antibody presence/absence in bird populations throughout Atlanta, and 4)
 temperature data observed in Atlanta. All data were used to estimate the
 vectorial capacity of mosquitoes for WNv given temperature and then
 analyze trends in WNv transmission as they relate to mosquito population
 dynamics and the vectorial capacity estimate.