Sample A: Cover Page of Thesis, Project, or Dissertation Proposal

ditches, animal waste lagoons, and artificial containers (Paulson 2006). These species are
largely ornithophilic (Apperson et al. 2004, Turell et al. 2005), however, Cx. pipiens and Cx.
restuans will feed on mammals, including humans and white-tailed deer, when these hosts
are abundant (Jackson and Paulson 2006, Molaei et al. 2006, Paulson 2006, Patrician et al.
2007).
Cx. pipiens mosquitoes were the principal vector for human-to-human transmission
of RVF virus during the 1977-1978 RVF outbreak in Egypt. In a RVF vector competency
study of Egyptian mosquito species, Cx. pipiens infection, dissemination, and transmission in
laboratory studies was similar for specimens collected in Egypt. Virtually all individuals that
develop disseminated infection would be expected to transmit the virus by bite (Turell et al.
1996).
Although no RVF vector competency laboratory studies have included Cx. restuans,
its inclusion in this study is based on the fact that other Culex species have been found to
transmit RVF virus during outbreaks and in laboratory studies. Cx. restuans was also
included due to local abundance in Virginia.
Cx. salinarius is a more catholic feeder that readily bites mammals (Andreadis et al.
2004, Molaei et al. 2006, Brown et al. 2008). Based on this and results of vector
competency studies, Cx. salinarius would likely be involved in transmission of RVF virus to
humans in the United States. Virtually any freshwater habitat with dying vegetation can
support Cx. salinarius larvae. The larvae can also develop where brackish conditions are
found along salt marshes (Horsfall 1955, Crans 2004).
Table 4.2 summarizes the bioecology of the species selected for this study.
88