172 - Using BG Sentinels to estimate the vectorial capacity of Aedes aegypti for dengue-1 virus the Florida Keys

Aedes aegypti is an invasive mosquito species distributed in tropical and sub-tropical environments and is the primary vector for dengue and Zika viruses in the western hemisphere including the southern United States. Dengue outbreaks have occurred sporadically in the Florida Keys, but transmission remains unpredictable. Therefore, a study was conducted to understand the factors involved in dengue transmission in three urbanized areas of Key West, Marathon, and Key Largo in the dry and rainy seasons through the use of the vectorial capacity equation. Estimates for each variable of the equation were either produced using data gathered from Aedes aegypti females collected in BG Sentinel traps from Key West, Marathon, or Key Largo, or information obtained from the literature. These variables include human biting rate, human biting habit, vector competence, daily survival of the vector, and the extrinsic incubation period. Based on these estimates for the dry season, vectorial capacity never exceeded the 1.0 calculation that indicates at least one mosquito is capable of dengue virus transmission. However, in the rainy season, both Key Largo and Marathon had vectorial capacity calculations of 2.66 and 5.48, respectively. The VC estimates enable mosquito control to make more informed treatment decisions with the ultimate goal of interrupting and preventing dengue transmission in the Florida Keys.