Alexander G. C. Vaux
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View article: Enhanced surveillance to assess the presence of Sindbis and Batai virus in mosquito populations at an urban zoo in the United Kingdom
Enhanced surveillance to assess the presence of Sindbis and Batai virus in mosquito populations at an urban zoo in the United Kingdom Open
Background Sindbis virus (SINV) and Batai virus (BATV) are emerging zoonotic arboviruses with a growing number of detections in Europe. Recent SINV outbreaks in northern Europe and high BATV seroprevalence in sheep, goats, and cattle in Ge…
View article: Evidence of much wider distribution of the potential West Nile virus vector, Culex modestus, in the UK
Evidence of much wider distribution of the potential West Nile virus vector, Culex modestus, in the UK Open
View article: Mosquito Viromes in England and Wales Reveal Hidden Arbovirus Signals and Limited Ecological Structuring
Mosquito Viromes in England and Wales Reveal Hidden Arbovirus Signals and Limited Ecological Structuring Open
Outbreaks of mosquito-borne viruses are increasing in temperate regions, with West Nile and Usutu viruses now established in wide regions across Europe, and both detected in the UK. Current surveillance strategies focus on targeted approac…
View article: Invasive mosquito surveillance in the United Kingdom 2020 to 2024: First detection of Aedes aegypti eggs in the UK and further detection of Aedes albopictus
Invasive mosquito surveillance in the United Kingdom 2020 to 2024: First detection of Aedes aegypti eggs in the UK and further detection of Aedes albopictus Open
Here, we provide an update on invasive mosquito surveillance activities coordinated by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) between May 2020 and November 2024. Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti are invasive mosquitoes and not currently e…
View article: The role of large ungulate grazers on Ixodes ricinus and tick-borne pathogens in the New Forest - a case study for future rewilded landscapes
The role of large ungulate grazers on Ixodes ricinus and tick-borne pathogens in the New Forest - a case study for future rewilded landscapes Open
Large ungulate grazers can manage habitats via conservation grazing, a practice using livestock to control vegetation growth, which has many ecological benefits but has the potential to provide additional hosts for ticks and consequently h…
View article: Spatial distribution of Culex mosquitoes across England and Wales, July 2023
Spatial distribution of Culex mosquitoes across England and Wales, July 2023 Open
Background With medically important arboviruses such as West Nile virus (WNV) circulating in Europe and Usutu virus (USUV) currently present in the UK, it is imperative to identify areas in the UK at risk of establishment and spread of the…
View article: Detection of West Nile virus via retrospective mosquito arbovirus surveillance, United Kingdom, 2025
Detection of West Nile virus via retrospective mosquito arbovirus surveillance, United Kingdom, 2025 Open
In March 2025, as part of ongoing enhanced surveillance for mosquito-borne Orthoflaviviruses, West Nile virus (WNV) RNA was detected in two pools of female Aedes vexans collected in July 2023 in Nottinghamshire, England. Sequencing and phy…
View article: Vertical transmission in field-caught mosquitoes identifies a mechanism for the establishment of Usutu virus in a temperate country
Vertical transmission in field-caught mosquitoes identifies a mechanism for the establishment of Usutu virus in a temperate country Open
Usutu virus (USUV) is an emerging zoonotic flavivirus in Europe and the first zoonotic mosquito-borne virus to be confirmed in animal hosts in the United Kingdom (UK). Repeated detection of USUV in the years following its initial detection…
View article: A full-length 16S survey using Nanopore sequencing to uncover the bacterial microbiome in Ixodes ricinus ticks from a single UK woodland, collected across three springs (2019-2021)
A full-length 16S survey using Nanopore sequencing to uncover the bacterial microbiome in Ixodes ricinus ticks from a single UK woodland, collected across three springs (2019-2021) Open
Ixodes ricinus is a key vector of several bacterial pathogens, including Borrelia and Rickettsia species. To assess bacterial prevalence and diversity, we characterised the microbiome of ticks collected from a single UK woodland, comparing…
View article: Update on <i>Aedes vexans</i> distribution in the UK
Update on <i>Aedes vexans</i> distribution in the UK Open
View article: Spatial distribution of<i>Culex</i>mosquitoes across England and Wales, July 2023
Spatial distribution of<i>Culex</i>mosquitoes across England and Wales, July 2023 Open
and keywords Background With medically important arboviruses such as West Nile virus (WNV) circulating in Europe and Usutu virus (USUV) currently present in the UK, it is imperative to identify areas in the UK at risk of establishment and …
View article: Ecological risk factors for the establishment of West Nile virus in Britain
Ecological risk factors for the establishment of West Nile virus in Britain Open
West Nile virus (WNV) is a zoonotic mosquito-borne virus which is emerging across Europe, largely due to climate and other environmental changes. Detection of WNV at increasingly northern latitudes raises concern that WNV may be introduced…
View article: A Full-Length 16s Nanopore Sequencing Survey of the Bacterial Microbiome in Ixodes Ricinus Ticks, Comparing Life Stage and Habitat in a Single UK Woodland Across Three Springs (2019-2021)
A Full-Length 16s Nanopore Sequencing Survey of the Bacterial Microbiome in Ixodes Ricinus Ticks, Comparing Life Stage and Habitat in a Single UK Woodland Across Three Springs (2019-2021) Open
View article: UK mosquitoes are competent to transmit Usutu virus at native temperatures
UK mosquitoes are competent to transmit Usutu virus at native temperatures Open
View article: Modelling the temperature dependent extrinsic incubation period of West Nile Virus using Bayesian time delay models
Modelling the temperature dependent extrinsic incubation period of West Nile Virus using Bayesian time delay models Open
West Nile Virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne pathogen that primarily infects birds. Infections can spillover to humans and cause a spectrum of clinical symptoms, including WNV neuroinvasive disease. The extrinsic incubation period (EIP) is th…
View article: Investigation of a Human Case of <i>Francisella tularensis</i> Infection, United Kingdom, 2023
Investigation of a Human Case of <i>Francisella tularensis</i> Infection, United Kingdom, 2023 Open
Tularemia, caused by Francisella tularensis, is not known to occur in the United Kingdom. We report a case of tularemia diagnosed in July 2023 in a UK patient with no travel in the 6 weeks before symptom onset. We describe the subsequent m…
View article: Mosquito nuisance and control in the UK in 2022 – A questionnaire-based survey of local authorities
Mosquito nuisance and control in the UK in 2022 – A questionnaire-based survey of local authorities Open
Mosquitoes are widely distributed across the United Kingdom (UK) and shifts in their distribution, particularly those known for their nuisance-biting behaviour, are expected to lead to an increase in enquiries directed towards Local Author…
View article: Mosquito diversity and abundance in English wetlands – empirical evidence to guide predictions for wetland suitability for mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae)
Mosquito diversity and abundance in English wetlands – empirical evidence to guide predictions for wetland suitability for mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) Open
The absence of habitat-based guidance for wetland managers on the British mosquito assemblages has in recent years prevented development of the ecological aspect of medical entomology in the UK. This has been particularly relevant in the c…
View article: Contribution to the distribution of mosquitoes in Great Britain, with northernmost records
Contribution to the distribution of mosquitoes in Great Britain, with northernmost records Open
We report occurrence data of mosquitoes in Scotland which were routinely collated by the British Mosquito Group for the period 1886 to 1993 (232 records), and by the Mosquito Recording Scheme since 2005 (11 records). We also report a set o…
View article: A snapshot mosquito field survey reveals the occurrence of Aedes geminus, Anopheles daciae, and Culex torrentium in the Republic of Ireland
A snapshot mosquito field survey reveals the occurrence of Aedes geminus, Anopheles daciae, and Culex torrentium in the Republic of Ireland Open
A snapshot mosquito field survey was conducted in the Republic of Ireland in April–May 2017 and 2018 (for the VectorNet project) to provide mosquito distribution data as there is a dearth of recent data available for that region. The occur…
View article: An update on the ecology, seasonality and distribution of Culex modestus in England
An update on the ecology, seasonality and distribution of Culex modestus in England Open
Culex ( Barraudius ) modestus is an important vector of West Nile virus (WNV) in Europe and it has the potential to play a bridge vector role in future WNV transmission in the UK. Here we provide an update on the known distribution of the …
View article: Field-based assessments of the seasonality of Culex pipiens sensu lato in England: an important enzootic vector of Usutu and West Nile viruses
Field-based assessments of the seasonality of Culex pipiens sensu lato in England: an important enzootic vector of Usutu and West Nile viruses Open
Background Usutu virus (USUV), which is closely related to West Nile virus (WNV), sharing a similar ecology and transmission cycle, was first reported in the UK in the southeast of England in 2020. Both USUV and WNV are emerging zoonotic v…
View article: Ťahyňa virus—A widespread, but neglected mosquito‐borne virus in Europe
Ťahyňa virus—A widespread, but neglected mosquito‐borne virus in Europe Open
Ťahyňa virus (TAHV) is an orthobunyavirus and was the first arbovirus isolated from mosquitoes in Europe and is associated with floodplain areas as a characteristic biotope, hares as reservoir hosts and the mammal‐feeding mosquitoes Aedes …
View article: Passive surveillance records including nuisance or suspected invasive/non-native mosquitoes in the United Kingdom, 2005-2021
Passive surveillance records including nuisance or suspected invasive/non-native mosquitoes in the United Kingdom, 2005-2021 Open
Alongside active surveillance at ports and land transport sites, the UK Health Security Agency runs a passive mosquito surveillance scheme: The Mosquito Recording Scheme (MRS). The MRS is a citizen-science scheme, it receives and identifie…
View article: Snap-shot assessment of adult mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) densities on the Turks and Caicos Islands, February 2022
Snap-shot assessment of adult mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) densities on the Turks and Caicos Islands, February 2022 Open
In many of the small island communities of the Caribbean, much of the vector surveillance effort is focussed on house-to-house peri-focal surveys to collect data on larval indices. Adult mosquito trapping is not always routine or affordabl…
View article: Impact of green space connectivity on urban tick presence, density and Borrelia infected ticks in different habitats and seasons in three cities in southern England
Impact of green space connectivity on urban tick presence, density and Borrelia infected ticks in different habitats and seasons in three cities in southern England Open
Understanding the effects of local habitat and wider landscape connectivity factors on tick presence, nymph density and Borrelia species (spp.) prevalence in the tick population is important for identifying the public health risk from Lyme…
View article: Horizon scanning for potential invasive non‐native species across the United Kingdom Overseas Territories
Horizon scanning for potential invasive non‐native species across the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Open
Invasive non‐native species (INNS) are recognized as a major threat to island biodiversity, ecosystems, and economies globally. Preventing high‐risk INNS from being introduced is the most cost‐effective way to avoid their adverse impacts. …
View article: Evidence for overwintering and autochthonous transmission of Usutu virus to wild birds following its redetection in the United Kingdom
Evidence for overwintering and autochthonous transmission of Usutu virus to wild birds following its redetection in the United Kingdom Open
Usutu virus (USUV) is an emerging zoonotic arbovirus in Europe, where it primarily impacts Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula). For mosquito-borne viruses to persist in temperate areas, transovarial transmission in vectors or overwintering…
View article: The first 6 years of surveillance of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Gibraltar
The first 6 years of surveillance of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Gibraltar Open
Following the expansion of the invasive mosquito Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) through Spain along the Mediterranean coast, mosquito surveillance was established in Gibraltar in 2016. This paper reports on the first detection of Ae…
View article: Combining host and vector data informs emergence and potential impact of an Usutu virus outbreak in UK wild birds
Combining host and vector data informs emergence and potential impact of an Usutu virus outbreak in UK wild birds Open
Following the first detection in the United Kingdom of Usutu virus (USUV) in wild birds in 2020, we undertook a multidisciplinary investigation that combined screening host and vector populations with interrogation of national citizen scie…