Calgarians asked to help track invasive mosquito linked to West Nile virus and avian malaria
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A research collaboration between the University of Calgary and the City of Calgary is calling on Calgarians to help track an invasive mosquito species that could pose a growing health risk to people and animals.
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Dr. John Soghigian, an assistant professor at the UCalgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, is leading the study on the northern house mosquito (Culex pipiens), an invasive species that has spread rapidly across Alberta since it was first detected in Edmonton in 2018.
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The species was identified in Calgary in 2022 and is now found across much of southern Alberta.
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'This is the mosquito that, in 1999, was in New York when West Nile virus emerged there,' said Soghigian. 'That makes it a little bit of a concern here.'
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Culex pipiens is known to transmit several diseases, including West Nile virus — which affects both humans and horses — and avian malaria, which can be fatal for exotic birds. In Calgary, the virus has been linked to the deaths of two penguins at the Calgary Zoo in recent years, Soghigian said. The species may also spread dog heartworm, though prevalence in Alberta remains low.
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To better understand the mosquito's behaviour, range and potential public health risk, the University of Calgary and the city launched a citizen science project encouraging park visitors to collect mosquito samples from Inglewood Bird Sanctuary and Ralph Klein Park. Collection kits and instructions are available on-site. Participants are asked to capture mosquitoes, place them in a provided vial, record the date and location and then submit the sample for analysis.
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'We're hoping to . . . track where this mosquito is and what pathogens it's associated with,' said Soghigian. 'West Nile virus is the main pathogen that we are concerned with from this mosquito.'
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The mosquito's tendency to feed primarily on birds raises additional concern, as birds serve as the primary hosts for West Nile virus.
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'This is why this mosquito is quite a concern from a public health perspective, because it has the capability of transmitting diseases from birds to humans.'
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West Nile virus is the most common mosquito-borne disease in Alberta. While most human cases resemble mild flu symptoms, the virus can cause severe encephalitis, particularly in elderly or immunocompromised individuals.
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