Background: Zoological parks offer unique opportunities to monitor arthropod vectors and assess risks to native and exotic animal populations. Methods: From August to December 2023, a prospective surveillance initiative was conducted at Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens, South Carolina’s largest zoological park. Adult mosquitoes were collected near animal enclosures using CO 2 -baited CDC miniature light traps. Pools of Culex spp. were screened for West Nile virus with rapid analyte measurement platform assays. Results: A total of 597 mosquitoes representing 17 species were collected. All Culex pools tested negative for West Nile virus. Conclusions: Despite routine mosquito abatement, a diverse assemblage of species was documented. Continued surveillance in zoological settings can clarify vector-borne disease dynamics and emerging threats to both humans and animals. Future studies should assess insecticide resistance and expand arboviral testing to strengthen prevention and mitigation strategies.
Brown et al. (Tue,) studied this question.