Details zur Publikation |
| Kategorie | Textpublikation |
| Referenztyp | Zeitschriften |
| DOI | 10.1002/ece3.72705 |
Lizenz  |
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| Titel (primär) | Vector Potential Index: Bridging competence and contribution as an integrative measure of relative transmission capability |
| Autor | Bauer, A.M.
; Burkett-Cadena, N.D.; Reeves, L.E.; Alto, B.W.; Campbell, L.P. |
| Quelle | Ecology and Evolution |
| Erscheinungsjahr | 2026 |
| Department | BZF |
| Band/Volume | 16 |
| Heft | 01 |
| Seite von | e72705 |
| Sprache | englisch |
| Topic | T5 Future Landscapes |
| Daten-/Softwarelinks | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15376192 |
| Keywords | arthropod vector; host use; mosquito; surveillance; vector competence; zoonotic vector-borne disease |
| Abstract |
Vector-borne diseases (VBD) pose a major concern for
public health worldwide. Identifying putative vectors and their
potential contribution to transmission is a crucial step in
understanding vector-borne disease hazard. However, existing metrics are
limited in their utility to inform transmission hazard in zoonotic
multi-vector, multi-host VBD systems. We present the Vector Potential
Index (VPI), a novel metric for evaluating and comparing the potential
of blood-feeding arthropod vectors to contribute to zoonotic VBD
transmission. Taking a meta-analysis approach, the VPI combines vector
competence and host use data obtained from scientific literature to
assign relative and absolute VPI ranks across species and transmission
cycles. Using West Nile virus (WNV) in the eastern United States as a
model system, our results demonstrate the ability of VPI to provide a
representative assessment of vector species' potential contribution to
transmission hazard in the epizootic and enzootic transmission cycles.
Most species had low vector potential, and although Aedes species were the most competent WNV vectors in the laboratory, only Culex species were assigned higher VPI ranks. Additionally, the VPI suggests that the contribution of Culex salinarius
to WNV transmission in the U.S. may be greater than previously assumed
based on assessments of individual parameters. Relative and absolute VPI
ranks assigned to species aligned with recent work reviewing their role
as vectors in the transmission cycles, indicating that by jointly
considering vector competence and host use, the VPI effectively
quantifies the species-specific potential to contribute to WNV
transmission hazard in the natural environment, using existing data. We
propose the objective and reproducible VPI as a powerful yet simple tool
for scientists and public health practitioners, where this trait-based
approach has considerable potential to provide new insights into disease
systems and enhance VBD surveillance and intervention strategies. |
| Bauer, A.M., Burkett-Cadena, N.D., Reeves, L.E., Alto, B.W., Campbell, L.P. (2026): Vector Potential Index: Bridging competence and contribution as an integrative measure of relative transmission capability Ecol. Evol. 16 (01), e72705 10.1002/ece3.72705 |
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