Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association, 18(2):131,2002 Copyright @ 2OO2 by the American Mosquito Control Association, Inc.

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

DISCOVERY OF AEDES ALBOPICZUS INFECTED WITH WEST NILE VIRUS IN SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA roHNHoLrcK.'., ANDREW """*"Xl?ifiXr["#S9,3 RAYMoNDR.DELANEY].qNo

ABSTRACT. In August 2000, Aedes albopictus was found in a COr-baited Centers for Disease Control light trap in eastern Philadelphia, PA. In late September 2000" West Nile viral antigen was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction testing from a pool of 2 Ae. albopictus mosquitoes that were collected in southwestern Montgomery County.

KEY WORDS Aedes albopictus, West Nile virus, southeastern Pennsylvania

Aedes albopiclas (Skuse) was reported in York Department of Health (PADOH) laboratory for WN County, Pennsylvania, in 1993 (Pagac, unpublished testing was to set traps in late afternoon and to col- data, 1995), although surveillance the following lect the following morning. The mosquitoes, while year failed to flnd arry Ae. albopictus. This mos- still in the trap nets, were placed in a cooler with quito has also been reported in New Jersey (Crans dry ice for -20 min. The nets were then emptied 1996). Spurred by the outbreak of West Nile virus on a cold surface and the mosquitoes were sepa- (WN) in New York during 1999, Pennsylvania rated and placed in chilled 15-ml tubes. The tubes started a mosquito surveillance program in 2000. were returned to the dry ice cooler. The samples -70'C That cooperative program is responsible for the were maintained on dry ice or stored in a work presented here. freezer until testing at the PADOH laboratory. In August 2000, the Philadelphia Department of In September 2000, the PADEP trapped 2 Ae. Public Health (PDPH) in conjunction with the albopictus in a COr-baited CDC light trap in south- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec- western Montgomery County. These 2 mosquitoes tion (PADEP) trapped Ae. albopictus in a COr-bait- comprised a pool sent to the PADOH for virus test- ed Centers for Disease Control (CDC) light trap. A ing. This pool tested positive for WN by the reverse (RT-PCR) survey of the trap location found numerots Ae. al- transcription-polymerase chain reaction procedure bopictus in the vegetation surrounding the light method. The PADOH used the CDC for trap. Further inspection revealed Ae. albopictus lar- WN RT-PCR testing. Montgomery County, after being informed of the results, had their contractor vae in a tire pile at an adjacent property. This con- (Clarke Environmental Mosquito Management@, stituted the lst record of Ae. albopictus in south- IL) identify the probable source of Ae. al- eastern Pennsylvania. Roselle, bopictus. Larvae of Ae. albopictus were found in Citizen complaints helped locate 2 additional several shaded abandoned tires on private property sites in Philadelphia, 1 in urban Center City and I in that area in southwestern Montgomery County. in Fairmount Park. In the Center City location, The work by M. J. Turell of U.S. Army Medical breeding was found in an abandoned artificial pond. Research Institute of Infectious Diseases on WN In the Fairmount Park case, a park employee pre- vector competence (Turell et al. 20Ol) suggested sented the PDPH with several adtlt Ae. albopictus. that Ae. albopictus may be a serious concern in the Although this species did not trap well in COr-bait- transmission of WN. The PDPH and the PADEP ed CDC light traps, the PADEP was able to collect have designated Ae. albopictus surveillance and 2 additional pools pools by aspiration. These tested control as a priority because of its high vector com- negative for WN. petence in laboratory studies and the ratio of pos- The PADEP performed the Cor-baited CDC itive mosquitoes relative to the population sampled light trapping of mosquitoes for virus isolation in in the 2000 surveillance season. Surveillance Montgomery County during the 2000 season. The changes to improve Ae. albopictus detection will be method used to submit samples to the Pennsylvania increased larval identification and the use of Faye- Prince traps for adults. ' Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Suite 601O, 555 North Lane. Conshohocken. PA 19428. REFERENCES CITED 2 Present address: Sussex County Mosquito Control, Crans WJ, Chomsky MS, Guthrie D, Acquaviva A. 1996. 127 Morris Turnpike, Newton, NJ 07860. First record of Aedesalbopictus from New Jercey.J Ant 3 Philadelphia Department of Public Health, 1953 West Mosq Control Assoc 12:3O7-309. Indiana Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 16132. Turell MJ, O'Guinn ML, Dohm DJ, JonesJW. 2001.Vector a Clarke Mosquito Control, 159 North Garden Avenue, competenceof North American mosquitoes(Diptera: Cu- Roselle, lllinois 60172. licidae) for West Nile vints. J Med Entomol3S:l3O-134.