165 - Edge of range invasion and infection of Aedes albopictus

Aedes albopictus was first detected within Lucas County, Ohio at a commercial tire facility in 2017. Following the initial collection, Ae. albopictus have been collected every subsequent year with an increasing abundance and distribution. The average female Ae. albopictus count has increased at the original location from 2 to 44 mosquitoes per trap since their detection. Currently Ae. albopictus has been detected up to 12.9 km from the presumed introduction site and is repeatedly observed in the same locations between years, though a clear source of reintroduction is not present at most sites. Given these findings, Ae. albopictus has likely become established in northwest Ohio and is overwintering. In 2023, seventy-two field-collected Ae. albopictus pools were tested for West Nile virus and seven positive pools were detected. Collections were made over a 17-week period, but all positive pools occurred between epidemiological week 30 and 33. Currently, weeks with positive pools have a minimum infection rate between 34 to 83. The virus appears to be wide-spread within the introduced range as thirty-five percent of the 17 locations sampled had positive samples.