Oklahoma County Research Articles

First Report of Dalbulus maidis (DeLong and Wolcott) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in Oklahoma.

The corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis (DeLong and Wolcott) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), is an invasive insect that can cause damage to maize (Zea mays L.) in two ways: by direct feeding and the transmission of several plant pathogens. Dalbulus maidis is an invasive and serious economic pest of maize that has spread from its center of origin in Mexico to the southernmost parts of the United States. Prior to 2024, corn leafhoppers had not been documented in Oklahoma, and their spread northward toward the United States corn belt is of significant concern. Here, we provide the first reports of the insect in maize in several Oklahoma counties. Insect specimens were collected at various commercial and experimental field sites by Oklahoma State University research and extension personnel. The identity of the insect species was validated through morphological and molecular taxonomy. The presence records for the corn leafhopper presented here provide valuable information for future monitoring and management efforts of this economically important pest and disease.

Residents’ behavioral support for tourism in a burgeoning rural destination

This study aimed to test a model derived from the social exchange theory and the theory of planned behavior in determining the role that antecedents play in explaining residents' behavioral support for tourism in a rapidly developing destination. Data were collected from 511 residents of McCurtain County in Oklahoma, USA, using onsite interception and online sampling strategies. Based on a two-step structural equation modeling analysis, eight out of the 10 proposed hypotheses were supported. Of the four potential predictors of residents’ attitudinal support for tourism, perceived benefits, perceived costs, and trust in local government were significant, explaining 63% of the variance in the construct. Attitudinal support, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control then significantly explained 84% of the variance in behavioral intentions to support tourism. These intentions, in turn, significantly explained 44% of the variance in behavioral support for tourism. Implications, limitations, and future research suggestions are discussed at the close of the article. Management ImplicationsResidents' support for tourism within McCurtain County in Oklahoma, USA, is not very strong mostly because residents do not feel that they can trust the government in making decisions regarding tourism and that they have limited power to contribute to tourism planning and management. To address the lack of trust in government, efforts should be made to increase transparency in tourism decision-making. This could occur through the greater inclusion of residents in planning sessions and sharing reports with the public (e.g., sharing minutes and reports via websites, radios, newspapers, etc.). The government should find ways to include more residents in tourism-related decision-making that will affect not only tourism businesses but also the community as a whole. This could look like a regular assessment of residents’ perspectives through conducting surveys, holding focus group interviews, or hosting town hall meetings.

Quantifying Adverse Childhood Experiences in Oklahoma With the Oklahoma Adversity Surveillance Index System (OASIS): Development and Cross-Sectional Study.

Developmental trauma depending on several factors may lead to later adult health risks and is an increasing public health concern, especially in states with predominantly rural populations. Oklahoma remains one of the states in America with the highest count of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs); therefore, more refined research methods for quantifying ACEs are vital for ensuring proper statewide interventions. While data sets already exist at the state level measuring specific ACEs like divorce or child abuse, the state currently lacks a single source for specific ACEs that can incorporate regions to allow for the identification of counties where ACEs are especially high. This county identification will allow for assessing trends in adversity prevalence over time to indicate where targeted interventions should be done and which counties experience amplified long-term consequences of high ACE rates. Thus, the model for the Oklahoma Adversity Surveillance Index System (OASIS) was born-a public health tool to map ACEs at the county level and grade them by severity over time. County-level data for 6 ACEs (mental illness, divorce, neglect, child abuse, domestic violence, and substance use) were collected from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Oklahoma State Department of Health, and Oklahoma Community Mental Health Centers for the years 2010 to 2018. First, a potential ACEs score (PAS) was created by standardizing and summing county rates for each ACE. To examine the temporal change in the PAS, a bivariate regression analysis was conducted. Additionally, an ACEs severity index (ASI) was created as a standardized measure of ACE severity across time. This included scoring counties based on severity for each ACE individually and summing the scores to generate an overall ASI for each county, capturing the severity of all ACEs included in the analysis. Mental illness and substance use showed the highest rates at the state level. Results from the regression were significant (F1,76=5.269; P=.02), showing that county PAS showed an increase over years. The ASI scores ranged from 0 to 6, and 4 Oklahoma counties (Adair, McCurtain, Muskogee, and Pittsburg) received a score of 6. OASIS involves the identification of counties where ACEs are most prevalent, allowing for the prioritization of interventions in these "hot spot" counties. In addition, regression analysis showed that ACEs increased in Oklahoma from 2010 to 2018. Future efforts should center on adding additional ACEs to the ASI and correlating adverse outcome rates (such as violence and medical disorder prevalence) at the county level with high ASI scores.

HIGH PREVALENCE OF CYTAUXZOON FELIS IN BOBCATS (LYNX RUFUS) ACROSS OKLAHOMA AND OCCURRENCE IN WEST TEXAS, USA.

Cytauxzoonosis is a fatal tick-borne disease in domestic cats caused by infection with the apicomplexan Cytauxzoon felis. Bobcats are the natural wild-vertebrate reservoirs for C. felis, and infections are typically subclinical and chronic in this species. The present study was done to determine the prevalence and geographic distribution of C. felis infection in wild bobcats from Oklahoma and the occurrence in northwestern Texas. Tongue samples from 360 bobcats were collected from 53 counties in Oklahoma and 13 samples from three counties in Texas. For DNA extracted from each tongue sample, a probe-based droplet digital PCR assay was performed targeting the C. felis mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit III (cox3). Prevalence of C. felis infection was calculated for each county sampled, and data from individual counties were combined according to geographic regions and compared using chi-square tests. Overall prevalence of C. felis in bobcats from Oklahoma was 80.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 75.6-83.8). The prevalence of infection was >90% for bobcats from central, northeastern, south-central, and southeastern regions of Oklahoma, but <68% for bobcats from northwestern and southwestern regions. Bobcats from central counties in Oklahoma were 25.693 times more likely to be infected with C. felis compared to all other bobcats sampled from the state. Higher prevalence estimates of C. felis in bobcats appeared to be in counties where known tick vectors are most common. Occurrence of C. felis in bobcats from northwestern Texas was 30.8% (95% CI, 12.4%-58.0%) based on 13 samples. Results of this study support the utilization of bobcats as sentinel animals to identify geographic areas with risk of C. felis infection to domestic cats.

Modeling Household Earthquake Hazard Adjustment Intentions: An Extension of the Protection Motivation Theory

While existing literature has explored how hazard experience, salience, and demographics characteristics shape threat appraisal and hazard adjustment intentions, this study expands on past studies by exploring how additional factors such as qualitative characteristics of the hazard, political ideology, and oil entanglements shape threat appraisals, coping appraisals, and adjustment intentions in response to a techna hazard. This study builds on protection motivation theory (PMT) to explore factors that shape Oklahomans’ intentions to adjust to induced seismicity using data collected from households (n=866) across 27 counties in Oklahoma that have experienced varying levels of seismic activity resulting from oil and gas exploration. Correlational analyses and structural equation modeling show that several variables not included in the original PMT, such as feelings of dread or negative emotions associated with earthquakes, are important predictors of intentions to adopt hazard adjustments. This study concludes with examining the effect of additional factors on adjustment intentions and risk perceptions that can help guide future earthquake risk management in identifying and taking appropriate actions that will stimulate precautionary behavior of private actors.

At War with Corruption: A Biography of Bill Price, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma by Michael J. Hightower

Reviewed by: At War with Corruption: A Biography of Bill Price, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma by Michael J. Hightower Aaron Bachhofer At War with Corruption: A Biography of Bill Price, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma. By Michael J. Hightower. Foreword by Frank Keating. (Norman, Okla.: 2 Cities Press, 2021. Pp. xx, 466. $29.95, ISBN 978-0-9847056-3-4.) The idea that corruption and chicanery were both frequent and familiar to Oklahomans remains a widely accepted perception of the state’s political history. Proponents posit that residents tolerated this “Soonerism” out of a misplaced sense of prairie populism, general apathy, or genuine ignorance of modern protocol (p. xiii). In At War with Corruption: A Biography of Bill Price, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma, independent historian Michael J. Hightower challenges that perception, arguing that Oklahomans were not tolerant of corruption. Rather, he asserts, the structure of state and local governments made corruption much too easy to institute and terribly difficult to eliminate. To support this notion, Hightower introduces readers to the political life of his friend William S. “Bill” Price, who served as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma from 1975 to 1989 and who spent the vast majority of his public and private life seeking to end political malfeasance in Oklahoma. A native Oklahoman who saw corruption as a threat to the legitimacy of state and national institutions, Bill Price forged ahead in political circles with an enviable fortitude and a sense of fairness that governed his entire public career. Educated at Georgetown University and the University of Oklahoma, Price was a devout Catholic convert and a proud family man. After his tenure as a U.S. Attorney, he mounted unsuccessful campaigns for the governorship and a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, built a successful law practice, and advocated for criminal justice reform in Oklahoma. His reputation for honesty, hard work, and sharp intellect led his campaign manager and fellow political animal, Tom Cole, to remark that Price was “the best governor Oklahoma never had” (p. x). Aside from Price’s formative years, Hightower details, in abbreviated strokes, the painful series of political cancers that have plagued the Sooner State since its birth: the dispossession and murder of Indigenous Americans; the 1923 impeachment of the anti-Klan governor Jack Walton; the Oklahoma Supreme Court payola scandal of 1964; State Treasurer Leo Winters’s financial issues; and Governor David Hall’s extortion conviction, events that made national news regularly throughout the twentieth century. A significant part of the narrative’s second half focuses on Price’s prosecution of the Oklahoma county commissioner scandal—often called “Okscam” in state and federal circles. Hightower relates that the pervasiveness and normalization of county corruption stunned Price. Powerful county commissioners took bribes—often in exchange for awarding contracts—and the costs of their corruption were passed on to taxpayers. The fact that Price became the lead prosecutor ferreting out these crimes from his federal post illustrated a central weakness in Oklahoma law—the lack of multicounty grand jury systems that gave state prosecutors more discretion in their pursuit of justice. The scandal made Oklahoma a national political joke, but it encouraged officials to pursue much needed reforms in government purchasing and accountability. Price spent the rest of his tenure as U.S. Attorney investigating [End Page 396] drug cartels, bank fraud, corruption at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, and other odious situations. Readers will find firsthand information included in these pages from Oklahoma political legends like G. T. Blankenship, Henry Bellmon, Frank Keating, Gene Stipe, and Tom Cole—men who helped shape politics in the state for upwards of seventy-five years. Most of the key “good guys” are included here—those who helped Price pursue wrongdoing or provided him with invaluable guidance during his political career. But Hightower’s narrative is missing a wider engagement with sources who might have been critical of Price, or at least those who challenged his commitment to law and order, which would have offered more balance. Hightower should be commended for offering readers a powerful, raw look at politics...

First report of Watermelon crinkle leaf-associated virus 2 infecting watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) in Oklahoma.

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is one of the major cucurbit crops in Oklahoma, which is grown on >1,200 acres. It contributes $16 million to the state's economy (Shrefler et al., 2017; NASS, 2022). During the 2021 growing season, virus-like symptoms on watermelon plants were observed in a grower's field in Blaine County, Oklahoma. These symptoms included mottling, crinkled leaf edges, and a unique yellow mosaic pattern (Fig. 1). Leaf tissue samples were randomly collected from nine plants and total RNA was extracted using Spectrum Plant Total RNA Kit (Sigma-Aldrich). Total RNA from one sample (named BL13) was subjected to high-throughput sequencing (HTS) on the NextSeq 500/550 High-Output kit v2.5 (Illumina, USA) at the genomic facility of Oklahoma State University. A total of 21,52,786 trimmed pair-end reads were assembled using CLC Genomics Workbench (v12.0.3) (Qiagen, Inc.) and subjected to BLASTn analysis. Of these, three contigs of 6,626 bp, 1,383 bp and 1,233 bp (average coverage 20,658X) showed 99% nucleotide (nt) sequence identity with RNA1 of a watermelon crinkle leaf-associated virus (WCLaV-2) isolate from Brazil (LC636073). The HTS data for BL13 samples also revealed three contigs of 263 pb, 567 bp and 1,066 bp that matched with cucumis melo crytpic virus isolate CmCV-HLI but was not confirmed by RT-PCR. The presence of WCLaV-2 in the BL13 sample was confirmed by RT-PCR using primers (RNA1-F: 5'-CAAAACGCCCATAAG AATAG-3'and RNA1-R: 5'- CTCCATTAATGAGAACTAGGAG-3') which amplified a 1.2 kb segment of the RNA1. The PCR product was confirmed on 1% agarose gel, cloned and three independent recombinant clones Sanger sequenced (Eurofins Genomics LLC, Louisville, KY, USA). The resulting consensus sequence (1.2 Kb) (ON453838) was subjected to a BLASTn search against the Genbank databases, resulting in 99.76% nt identity with WCLaV-2 RNA1 (Accession no. LC636073). Screening of the remaining eight symptomatic samples by RT-PCR revealed another positive sample (named BL7) for WCLaV-2. Consensus nt sequence (1.2 Kb) analysis for the virus isolate from the BL7 sample (Accession no. ON453839) shared 99.84% nt identities with WCLaV-2 RNA1 (LC636073). Total RNA from BL13 and BL7 samples, as well as the remaining seven samples, were tested against three major potyviruses (PRSV-W, WMV, and ZYMV) by multiplex RT-PCR (Rajbanshi & Ali, 2019). Both BL13 and BL7 samples were negative to all three potyviruses but the other eight samples were positive to one or two of the potyviruses. WCLaV-2 is a negative-sense ssRNA virus (family Phenuiviridae) and has been recently reported from watermelon in China (Xin et al., 2017) and Brazil (Maeda et al. 2022). In the United States, it has been reported from Florida (Hendrick et al., 2021), Georgia (Adeleke et al., 2022), and Texas (Hernandez et al., 2021). The mode of transmission of WCLaV-2 and its direct effect on watermelon fruit is not known (Xin et al., 2017; Maeda et al., 2022). Our results report for the first time the occurrence of WCLaV-2 infecting watermelon naturally in Oklahoma and show a further potential threat to watermelon production in the State. Further studies are needed to determine the incidence of WCLaV-2 in other counties of Oklahoma.

First Report of Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus Infecting Pepper and Tomato in Oklahoma.

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), (genus Begomovirus and family Geminiviridae) is one of the devastating viruses infecting tomatoes (Solanum Lycopersicon) and could have a significant impact on tomato production worldwide (Moriones and Navas-Castillo, 2000; Rybicki, 2015; Perez-Padilla et al. 2019). TYLCV was first reported in the United States (US) in 1997 in Florida (Polston et al. 1999) and since then it has been reported in several other states but not in Oklahoma (de Sa et al. 2008). Both pepper (Capsicum spp.) and tomato are grown in >50 counties of Oklahoma for fresh produce in the local market, and for processing industries. During a survey in 2021, pepper (bell pepper cv SV3964) and tomato (cv grand marshall) plants grown in a commercial field in Bixby, Oklahoma, showed typical virus-like symptoms including yellowing, leaf curling, cupping, twisting, and mottling (Fig. 1). Estimated disease incidence was 10% in both crops. In addition, whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) were also observed on these plants. Twenty symptomatic samples from pepper (n=16) and tomato (n=4) plants, and four asymptomatic from pepper (n=2) and tomato (n=2) plants were collected and brought to the Plant Virology Lab at the University of Tulsa for further analysis Total RNA was extracted from all samples using the Spectrum Plant Total RNA Kit (Sigma-Aldrich, LOT: SLCG7913). RNA from two symptomatic samples, one each from pepper and tomato (named BX6 and BX11, respectively) were subjected to high-throughput sequencing (HTS) on the NextSeq 500/550 high-output kit v2.5 (Illumina, USA) at the genomic facility, Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, OK, USA). A total of 22,385,404 (average length 73.6 bp) and 19,012,605 (average length 73.7 bp) trim pair-end for both samples (BX6 and BX11) were assembled using CLC Genomics Workbench (v12.0.3) (Qiagen, Inc) and subjected to BLASTn analysis. The three contigs: 393 bp (coverage 363.24X), 670 bp (coverage 489.92X), and 990 bp (coverage 112.96X) for BX6 isolate, and four contigs: 393 bp (coverage 341.64X), 668 bp (coverage 457.23X), 814 bp (coverage 107.86X), and 990 bp (coverage 93.71X), for BX11 isolate, showed from 96 to 99% nucleotide (nt) identities with movement protein, capsid protein, C3, V2, C4, AC1, AC2, AC3 protein genes of the TYLCV isolates from Australia, China, Iran, Mexico, South Korea, and the US. The HTS data did not reveal any other viral sequence in these two samples. To further confirm the presence of TYLCV in these samples, three overlapping TYLCV-specific primer pairs (Supplementary Table 1) were designed based on the alignment of complete genome sequences of TYLCV isolates present in the Genbank. Total DNA was extracted from fresh leaf tissues of BX6 and BX11 samples using the Plant DNA Kit (Omega BIO-TEK,) and used in the PCR assay. The expected PCR products (814 bp, 1,085 bp and 1,068 bp) were generated from both samples providing further evidence of TYLCV infection. To obtain the complete genome sequence, these PCR amplified DNA fragments of both isolates were gel extracted and cloned using the pGEM-T® Easy Vector system. Three independent clones of each fragment were sequenced and analyzed by Sanger sequencing. The resulting consensus sequences were used in a BLASTn search against the GenBank and had the highest identities (99-99.2%) with TYLCV sequences. The overlapping consensus nt sequence of the BX6 isolate was 2,782 nt (Accession no ON321843), whereas that of BX11 was 2,777 nt (Accession no ON785706) showed 99.2% and 99.0% nt identities with the corresponding sequence of TYLCV isolates (KX347141 and KX347142) respectively from Australia. The nt identity between BX6 and BX11 was 99.7%. Further screening by PCR of the remaining 18 symptomatic field samples (pepper, n=15 and tomatoes, n=3) revealed TYLCV infection in two pepper and all three tomato samples consistent with the greater susceptibility of tomato. None of the asymptomatic pepper and tomato samples were positive for TYLCV. DNA from both BX6 and BX11 samples was also used in the rolling circle amplification (RCA) assay (TempliPhi Amplification Kit, Cytiva) and the presence of circular TYLCV DNA was detected. Our results demonstrated the presence of TYLCV infection in these symptomatic pepper and tomato plants. This is the first report of TYLCV infecting pepper or tomato in open fields in Oklahoma. Further surveys are needed to determine the incidence of TYLCV and the presence of its vector in other counties throughout Oklahoma.

Using metagenomics to detect West Nile virus in mosquitoes collected in Oklahoma

Mosquito-borne diseases are a major public health concern and given the current expansion of the distribution of invasive species of mosquitoes, active arboviral surveillance is necessary to inform public health applications. Metagenomics has been used as a molecular tool to detect and discover pathogens in arthropod vectors. We used the portable next-generation sequencing MinION from Oxford Nanopore Technologies to detect the West Nile virus in mosquitoes collected in Oklahoma during the summer of 2019. Our sampling efforts resulted in 3,200 mosquitoes collected from four counties in Oklahoma. The species composition was diverse, with 19 species from five genera. Following species identification and pooling, total RNA was extracted, and samples were screened for mosquito-borne arbovirus by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) using primers targeting conserved regions of the flavivirus arboviral family. A DNA library was constructed with cDNA from samples tested positive for flavivirus and sequenced on single MinION R9.4 flow cells generating 3,190,000 reads. Base-calling was done using the built-in tool in the MinKnow ONT software that implements quality filtering (QC). A total of 2,494,315 reads were analyzed; and 83,016 reads were classified and 2,411,299 were unclassified using the cloud-based EPI2ME data analysis platform from ONT. MinION sequencing uncovered that the dominant superkingdoms were bacteria (51.1%), followed by eukaryote (42.9%), viruses (5.2%), and archaea (0.8%) with 354 reads mapping to the arboviral West Nile virus.

Residents’ perceptions of the need and potential for rural renewal in two farming-dependent counties

Many rural counties in the U.S. are struggling, particularly farming-dependent counties experiencing persistent poverty. This Rapid Rural Appraisal study focused on two farming-dependent counties in rural Oklahoma experiencing persistent poverty, population declines, and related stressors. In a series of open forums, rural community members most frequently referenced built capital (i.e., infrastructure) as the major reason that prevented the growth of new businesses and suppressed pride in the community. In comparison, community members expressed their greatest accomplishments and sources of hope involved human capital, in the way of the school systems, teachers, and students, and social capital, in the way of their athletic teams, churches, and relationships with each other. Although these counties rely heavily on agriculture as a major contributor to their economy, residents expressed challenges and concerns related to high concentrations of nitrate in the drinking water and seasonal air pollution related to agricultural processing facilities. Recommendations include encouraging residents in these two counties to rally together around their perceived strengths – human and social capital – to actively solve the problems identified during the open forums.

Significant range extension of Streptanthus squamiformis (Brassicaceae), a Ouachita Mountain endemic

Streptanthus squamiformis Goodman (Brassicaceae) is a plant narrowly endemic to the Athens Plateau; Central Hills, Ridges, and Valleys; and Central Mountain Ranges ecoregions of the Ouachita Mountains, and previously known from five adjacent counties in western Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma. We document a 100-km range extension of this species to Perry County in central Arkansas, its first occurrence in the Fourche Mountains Ecoregion.

Drivers of Household Risk Perceptions and Adjustment Intentions to Tornado Hazards in Oklahoma

Abstract Tornadoes are responsible for considerable property damage and loss of life across Oklahoma. While several studies have explored drivers of tornado adjustment behaviors, their results are not consistent in terms of their significance and direction. To address this shortcoming in the literature, we surveyed households using a disproportionate stratified sampling procedure from counties in Oklahoma that frequently experience tornado threats to explore drivers of adjustments. We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to explore relationships among variables highlighted in the protection motivation theory (PMT) and related literature that affect adjustment intentions and risk perceptions. Overall, we found that the factors highlighted in the PMT are effective at explaining households’ intentions of adopting adjustment behaviors associated with tornado hazards. Threat appraisals, however, were less important than coping appraisals in explaining tornado hazard adjustment intentions. In further analysis, we grouped adjustments as 1) basic (e.g., flashlight, food supply, and water supply) and 2) complex (e.g., insurance and storm shelter), and we found that while coping appraisals are significant drivers of both adjustment categories, the effect of threat appraisals is only significant for complex adjustment intentions. We also found that emotional responses to hazards are major drivers of threat appraisals, stronger than perceived knowledge and hazard salience. Moreover, we found that demographic characteristics affect both adjustment intentions and threat appraisals. The additions to the PMT and categorization of adjustment activities improve our understanding of the PMT in different contexts. Such insights provide scholars and emergency managers with strategies for risk communication efforts. Significance Statement Tornadoes have caused considerable property damage and loss of life across the state of Oklahoma. Here, we utilize the protection motivation theory (PMT) to explore drivers of tornado hazard adjustment intentions by surveying households from counties in Oklahoma that frequently experience tornadoes. Overall, we found that threat appraisals and coping appraisals produce differential effects depending on the type of hazard adjustment in question. Our findings show that risk perceptions are not a significant explanatory variable of basic adjustments (e.g., flashlight, food supply, and water supply) but are a significant explanatory variable of complex adjustments (e.g., insurance and storm shelter). Future work should provide broader perspectives on how to advance the PMT to better explain adjustment intentions for various hazards.

Cancer‐associated venous thromboembolism: Incidence and features in a racially diverse population

BackgroundData on the population‐based incidence of cancer‐associated venous thromboembolism (VTE) from racially diverse populations are limited. ObjectiveTo evaluate the incidence and burden of cancer‐associated VTE, including demographic and racial subgroups in the general population of Oklahoma County—which closely mirrors the United States. DesignA population‐based prospective study. SettingWe conducted surveillance of VTE at tertiary care facilities and outpatient clinics in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, from 2012–2014. Surveillance included reviewing all imaging reports used to diagnose VTE and identifying VTE events from hospital discharge data and death certificates. Cancer status was determined by linkage to the Oklahoma Central Cancer Registry. MeasurementsWe used Poisson regression to calculate crude and age‐adjusted incidence rates of cancer‐associated VTE per 100 000 general population per year, with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). ResultsThe age‐adjusted incidence (95% CI) of cancer‐associated VTE among adults age ≥ 18 was 70.0 (65.1–75.3). The age‐adjusted incidence rates (95% CI) were 85.9 (72.7–101.6) for non‐Hispanic Blacks, 79.5 (13.2–86.5) for non‐Hispanic Whites, 18.8 (8.9–39.4) for Native Americans, 15.6 (7.0–34.8) for Asian/Pacific Islanders, and 15.2 (9.2–25.1) for Hispanics. Recurrent VTE up to 2 years after the initial diagnosis occurred in 38 of 304 patients (12.5%) with active cancer and in 34 of 424 patients (8.0%) with a history of cancer > 6 months previously. ConclusionAge‐adjusted incidence rates of cancer‐associated VTE vary substantially by race and ethnicity. The relatively high incidence rates of first VTE and of recurrence warrant further assessment of strategies to prevent VTE among cancer patients.

Little Evidence of Leaf Damage to Dwarf Palmetto (Sabal minor; Arecaceae) during an Unusual Arctic Outbreak

The dwarf palmetto (Sabal minor) is a widespread understory palm of the southeastern United States. This palm is expected to be one of the species that exhibits a range shift in response to climate change, and the population at the northwestern edge of its distribution in Oklahoma appears to be increasing in both numbers and extent. However, this palm may also be susceptible to cold damage during unusually severe winters, which could potentially limit the spread of this species. An unusually cold arctic outbreak spread across the southern Great Plains during 13–17 February 2021, with minimum temperatures of −11 °C recorded in Houston (Texas), −15 °C in San Antonio (Texas), and −26 °C in Oklahoma City (Oklahoma). In order to evaluate the effects of the arctic outbreak on Sabal minor, I examined individuals in four counties (one site in Brazoria County, TX; one site in Brazos County, TX; two sites in McCurtain County, Oklahoma; and two sites in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma) in the period of 5–16 March 2021. At nearly every site, 30 individuals were examined, and the number of palmate leaves as well as the extent of the green area on the leaf was visually estimated, with percentages rounded to the nearest 5%. There was little evidence of cold damage from southeastern Oklahoma to coastal Texas, with palmate leaves retaining a median of 85% green area. However, some damage was noted in seedlings at the northernmost population in McCurtain County, Oklahoma. In contrast, extensive leaf damage was noted in dwarf palmetto plantings in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, with plants retaining a median of only 5% green leaf area. The results of this study suggest that arctic outbreaks are unlikely to prohibit the continued spread of this species at the northern edge of its native range but may cause damage to multiple plant growth stages that could reduce the rate at which the species survives and reproduces.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among rural Oklahomans.

COVID-19 vaccination is widely recommended as a prevention strategy; however, vaccine uptake is disproportionately lower among rural Americans compared to their urban counterparts. Development of public health activities to address the rural-urban vaccine gap requires an understanding of determinants of vaccine hesitation. The present study explores perceptions of and barriers to COVID-19 vaccination among rural Oklahomans. Between March and May 2021, 222 residents, unvaccinated for COVID-19, within rural Oklahoma counties completed a cross-sectional, online questionnaire to qualitatively assess perceptions, benefits, and concerns regarding getting vaccinated for COVID-19. Approximately two-fifths of rural respondents in the present study were hesitant to get vaccinated, even when a vaccine was made available to them. Major factors included limited knowledge and understanding about the vaccine, including potential side-effects and long-term complications, as well as skepticism surrounding COVID-19 vaccine development and efficacy. Among the potential perceived benefits of vaccination were protecting the health of vulnerable individuals and the ability to return to normal day-to-day activities. Increases in COVID-19 cases and deaths in rural areas are expected to continue as new variants are introduced within communities. The present findings highlight the need for the development of culturally tailored vaccine information, to be disseminated by local leaders within rural communities.

Establishing a COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic at a Student-Run Free Clinic

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious infectious disease associated with significant rates of morbidity and mortality. With limited treatments for COVID-19, the most effective strategy developed to mitigate the effects of this disease is vaccination. Unity Clinic, an interdisciplinary, student-run free clinic (SRFC) at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC), created a COVID-19 vaccine clinic that started in January 2021 to participate in the mass vaccination campaign in Oklahoma. Health profession students from seven different colleges present at OUHSC served in either non-clinical or clinical volunteer roles at the vaccine clinics. Between January 6 and July 16, 2021, Unity Clinic hosted 119 vaccine clinics, administered 39,665 vaccines, and had 16,830 student volunteer hours logged. The vaccines administered through Unity Clinic composed 1.2% of all vaccines administered in the state and 11.1% of all vaccines administered in Oklahoma County. This descriptive report demonstrates the effective use of an SRFC for large-scale COVID-19 vaccination events. Unity Clinic’s COVID-19 vaccine clinic has the potential to serve as a model for other SRFCs around the country to use for the current COVID-19 pandemic and adapt for other public health issues in the future.

Differences in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) Program participation among Oklahoma counties

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federally funded and state adminis­tered program to combat food insecurity. Analyz­ing factors in SNAP participation is important to understanding consumption in food systems and supporting community development. As of 2019, 565,900 Oklahomans participate in the SNAP pro­gram, approximately 84% of those eligible for the program. This leads to two questions: why do those who are eligible participate, and how can we better reach those who do not? We analyzed county-level SNAP participation among the income-eligible to identify explanatory characteris­tics of SNAP usage. Data from sources such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service (USDA ERS) and the U.S. Census Bureau were used to perform a regression analysis on 12 variables, such as store access and number of dependents. The percentage of house­holds with children under 18 and the unemploy­ment rate are associated with increases in SNAP participation among those eligible. Store access and rurality are associated with a decline in SNAP usage. These findings will aid policymakers, SNAP administrators, and outreach education groups in improving program participation by targeting groups susceptible to food insecurity and with low SNAP usage who could benefit from participation.

Trypanosoma cruzi and Other Vector-Borne Infections in Shelter Dogs in Two Counties of Oklahoma, United States.

Trypanosoma cruzi is an emerging zoonotic vector-borne parasite infecting dogs and other mammals in the United States. In this study we evaluated shelter dogs in one northeastern and one southeastern county in Oklahoma for prevalence of exposure to T. cruzi. Dogs were tested for antibodies against T. cruzi using the Chagas STAT PAK® assay and for T. cruzi in circulation by PCR. In addition, dogs were tested for evidence of infection with other vector-borne organisms using the SNAP® 4Dx® Plus Test and PCR. Overall, 26 of 197 (13.2%) shelter dogs had detectable antibodies against T. cruzi and 3 of 189 (1.6%) dogs were PCR positive. In addition, we found that 42 of 197 (21.3%) shelter dogs had evidence of exposure to or were infected with at least one vector-borne agent other than T. cruzi based on serology and/or PCR; 9 of 42 (21.4%) of these dogs were also positive for T. cruzi antibodies. Other infections identified in dogs included Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma platys, Babesia sp. (Coco), Dirofilaria immitis, Ehrlichia canis, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia ewingii, and Hepatozoon americanum. This study serves to boost state-wide veterinary and public health awareness of T. cruzi and other vector-borne pathogens infecting shelter dogs in Oklahoma. Results indicate the need for more comprehensive screening of shelter dogs in Oklahoma for exposure to vector-borne agents to enhance surveillance and to identify dogs in need of additional specific veterinary care.

Peer Educators as Partners in Sexual Health Programming: A Case Study

The Sexual Health And Peer Education (SHAPE) program implemented in middle schools in Oklahoma County utilizes a hybrid adult and peer educator model to deliver sexual health programming. While peer educators have been incorporated into school-based sexual health programs in the past, this program is unique in its approach to preparing and engaging peer educators. Researchers synthesized data from interviews with program implementers and focus group discussions with teenage peer educators and middle school students who recently participated in the program to understand the process elements that contribute to the benefit of the SHAPE program model. Interviews with program implementers described the thorough peer educator recruitment and training process. Teenage peer educators felt well-prepared to deliver lessons, and through this program, they developed leadership skills, confidence, and grew personally. Middle school students revealed that peer educators were relatable and provided a positive experience where they could engage and ask questions. The application of a hybrid adult and teenage peer educator model proved useful for delivering sexual health topics and benefited students and teenage peer educators. This study’s findings highlight elements that can be utilized in future sexual health programming to prepare and engage teenage peer educators in more meaningful ways.

New State and County Records of Short-horned Grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae and Romaleidae) in Oklahoma

Short-horned grasshoppers are important constituents of grassland ecosystems, with some species causing substantial damage to rangeland. A statewide, comprehensive inventory between 1959 and 1961 listed 117 species from Oklahoma with 2,101 county records documented. From June 2019 through October 2020, short-horned grasshoppers were surveyed in all 77 Oklahoma counties. The surveys, combined with a thorough examination of museum specimens, resulted in five new state records and 734 new county records. Our results increased the number of known records by 35%, bringing the total number of county records for Acrididae and Romaleidae in Oklahoma to 2,835. The five new state records were Trachyrhachys aspera (Scudder), Trimerotropis melanoptera McNeill, Metaleptea brevicornis (L.), Melanoplus macclungi Rehn, and Phrynotettix tshivavensis (Haldeman). County records for the subfamilies Leptysminae and Cyrtacanthacridinae had the greatest relative increase (70 and 55%, respectively), while Romaleinae and Melanoplinae had the least (26 and 25%, respectively). The data update current ranges of economically important species as well as species of potential conservation concern.