99 - An evaluation of Gravid Traps for West Nile Virus (WNV) and St. Louis Encephalitis Virus (SLEV) detections in Culex quinquefasciatus in Lubbock, TX

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

9:20 AM - 9:30 AM PDT

Location: B116

Presenter(s)

Sierra N. Lewis (she/her/hers)

Master's Student
Texas Tech University, Texas, United States

Co-Author(s)

JD

John Davis, Undergraduate Assistant

Texas Tech University, Texas, United States
NP

Nadia Patel, Undergraduate Assistant

Texas Tech University, Texas, United States
Stephen Opoku Afriyie, PhD Student

Texas Tech University, Texas, United States
Melissa M. Clawson, BS, MS (she/her/hers)

Graduate Student
Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Texas, United States
Corey L. Brelsfoard, B.S., M.S., Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Texas, United States
Joseph McMillan, n/a

Assistant Professor
Texas Tech University, Texas, United States

Abstract: We tested the ability of gravid traps to increase West Nile Virus (WNV) and St. Louis Encephalitis Virus (SLEV) detections in Culex quinquefasciatus (CXQ) in Lubbock, TX. Traps were set for 17 weeks at 6 sites, and we tested 97 pools (CXQ: 2370 individuals, 52 pools; Culex tarsalis: 282 individuals, 45 pools). CXQ accounted for 79% (n=24) and 92% (n=12) of WNV and SLEV positive pools, respectively. WNV is likely under-reported in CXQ in Lubbock.