Impacts of the Burmese python on the transmission ecology of a mosquito borne pathogen in southern Florida

Diverse wildlife serve as important amplification hosts of zoonotic vector-borne pathogens. In southern Florida, an exotic and invasive wildlife species, the Burmese python, is implicated in the precipitous decline of the native mammal community. Through PCR-based blood meal analysis and virus detection at field sites with varying degrees of python establishment we show that python-attributed alterations to the mammal community affect host usage and Alphavirus infection rate in a vector mosquito species. Culex cedecei, the only confirmed vector of Everglades virus (subtype 2 of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus) fed more on rodents (the host of Everglades virus) at sites with greater python detection probability, which, in turn resulted in higher virus infection rates in female mosquitoes at those sites. By preying upon dilution hosts (deer, raccoons, rabbits) the invasive python may indirectly increase human risk of infection with Everglades virus in south Florida.