Ja. Comer et al., EFFECT OF FOREST TYPE ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF LUTZOMYIA-SHANNONI (DIPTERA, PSYCHODIDAE) AND VESICULAR STOMATITIS-VIRUS ON OSSABAW ISLAND, GEORGIA, Journal of medical entomology, 30(3), 1993, pp. 555-560
We studied the effects of three forest types on multiple factors that
are believed to influence the transmission of the New Jersey serotype
of vesicular stomatitis (VSNJ) virus on Ossabaw Island, GA. These fact
ors included availability of tree hole diurnal resting habitat for the
presumed sand fly vector, Lutzomyia shannoni Dyar; relative abundance
of L. shannoni; prevalence of VSNJ virus infection in sand flies; and
prevalence of VSNJ virus antibodies in wild swine. Tree hole availabi
lity, sand fly abundance, and antibody prevalence in swine were signif
icantly greater in maritime live oak forest than in other forest types
. A single isolate of VSNJ virus was obtained from sand flies collecte
d in maritime live oak forest. These data indicate that the relative a
bundance of adult L. shannoni is influenced significantly by the avail
ability of tree holes and that VSNJ virus infection in wild swine is l
inked to forest type and is greatest in areas capable of supporting ab
undant populations of L. shannoni.