Establishing vector surveillance in areas with limited infrastructure through MEGA:BITESS; a community-driven vector surveillance and education program

Mosquitoes and ticks pose human health risks worldwide by transmitting pathogens that cause several vector-borne diseases. To control these vectors and limit vector-borne disease cases that occur, vector control and abatement programs often conduct surveillance for the vector and pathogen to determine if, when, and where vectors and pathogens are present. If they are present, they decide if vector management and pathogen control options are necessary. Unfortunately, East Tennessee lacks the infrastructure and resources to conduct a proper vector surveillance and management program for the common mosquito and tick-borne pathogens in the region. Since 2019, community-based mosquito surveillance has been implemented for Aedes mosquitoes and La Crosse virus at schools in East Tennessee through the MEGA:BITESS program (Medical Entomology & Geospatial Analyses: Bringing Innovation to Teacher Education & Surveillance Studies). Concurrently, since 2021, the University of Tennessee Urban Integrated Pest Management program has conducted tick surveillance at various schools. Thus far, 18 educators from 15 schools have participated in MEGA:BITESS, with six educators having participated in the program for 3 years or longer. Aedes albopictus has been the most abundant mosquito collected. During tick surveillance, 1,026 ticks were collected at 53 schools in nine counties across East Tennessee. Ticks were most abundant in the spring, with Amblyomma americanum being the most commonly collected species. The intended outcome of this project is to supplement the necessary infrastructure for vector surveillance in the region, with a long-term goal of deploying a community-based vector surveillance and education program with those at risk.