Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) and Rainfall Associations with Arbovirus Disease in Eastern Victoria

Abstract

Associations between mosquito abundance and Ross River virus (RRV) and Barmah Forest virus (BFV) disease are demonstrated for the Gippsland Lakes region of eastern Victoria, Australia. Significant correlations were obtained between RRV and BFV disease notifications and mosquito counts after lag times ranging from 2-4 months for the dominant mosquito species Aedes camptorhynchus, and 0-3 months for the less abundant mosquitoes Anopheles annulipes, Culex australicus and Culex globocoxitus. Correlations between RRV and BFV disease notifications and rainfall were significant after lag times of 3-4 months. Monthly abundance of Ae. Camptorhynchus was significantly higher during above-average years of RRV notifications, with higher mosquito abundance during November to January. Together, these results clarify some important timelines between rainfall, mosquito abundance and increased arbovirus activity in eastern Victoria.