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

G Quintavalle Pastorino,H Hofer,B A Daniel,E Flach,R Kock,M Albertini,P Pearce‐Kelly,A W Sainsbury,A A Cunningham,Y Sato,S Leather,J Junhold,N Masters,A Routh,R Preziosi,W Spencer,F Carlsen

doi:10.1111/izy.12065

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.

Highlights

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)
Monitoring and surveillance are key to obtaining such information, and enabling appropriate vector and disease control measures to be taken (Adler et al, 2011; Tuten 2011a; Tuten et al, 2012; World Health Organization, 2012, 2013a), especially when increasing changes in environmental conditions (Barnosky et al, 2012; Hansen et al, 2013) are considered
A substantial body of publications and health-agency reports highlights the significance of climate change on vector-borne diseases (Kurane, 2010; Eastwood et al, 2011; Guis et al, 2012; Gallana et al, 2013; World Health Organization, 2013b), including actual and projected spatio–temporal changes to mosquito distribution and associated disease issues (Patz et al, 2005; Confalonieri et al, 2007; Paaijmans et al, 2010; Garamszegi, 2011; Roiz et al, 2011; Hongoh et al, 2012; Loiseau et al, 2012; Altizer et al, 2013; Fischer et al, 2013; Gallana et al, 2013; Hueffer et al, 2013; World Health Organization, 2013c)

Summary

Introduction

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). In the context of mosquito research, many zoos have the potential to provide valuable mosquito-monitoring and research opportunities This is largely due to the combination of novel species assemblages that zoos and similar facilities maintain, and the diverse range of microhabitats and shelters suitable for mosquito breeding and overwintering (Adler et al, 2011; Nelder, 2007; Tuten, 2011a; Tuten 2011b; Tuten et al, 2012) Such environments can attract and maintain a wide range of mosquitoes, allowing them to be detected and studied. The potential of national, regional and global-level zoo networks to contribute to mosquito-monitoring efforts remains largely unutilized

Discussion

Conclusion