Susan Paskewitz
she/her
Professor
Interests: Medical entomology
(608) 262-1269
Midwest Center of Excellence for Vector-borne Disease
Wisconsin Mosquitoes and Mosquito-borne Diseases
Wisconsin Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases
Insects as Food
739 Russell Labs
1630 Linden Drive
Madison, WI 53706
Faculty Profile
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Research Interests
My research centers on management of arthropods involved in disease transmission, with a focus on mosquitoes and ticks. A key question is the basis for compatibility versus incompatibility between various mosquito species and malaria parasite strains or species. Compatibility can be mediated by the immune response of the host mosquito as well as evasion mechanisms of the parasite. Our major contributions to this field include 1) identification of the role of important enzymes involved in regulating the melanization response through gene silencing studies, 2) a model Sephadex bead system for investigation of immune responses that is now widely used for molecular and ecological studies, and 3) discovery of a mosquito protein that binds to parasites and facilitates their development in this host. Ongoing NIH-funded work focuses on the mosquito lysozyme gene family and the relationship of these proteins to adult and larval biology as well as their interaction with parasites.
To address the outbreak of West Nile virus (WNV) in the US and to gain expertise in methods of mosquito control, another line of research was initiated in 2005 on Integrated Mosquito Management (IMM) of local pests. This Hatch-supported research focused on identification of major human biting species in southern Wisconsin and diagnosis of WNV in pooled samples from these collections. In addition, we 1) characterized aquatic sites that produce WNV vectors in Madison and identified superproducing sites (with Dr. Christine Arcari, Pop. Health, and John Hausbeck, Dane County Public Health), 2) investigated the co-occurrence of avian Plasmodium and WNV in Culex spp., (with Dr. Erik Hofmeister, USGS), and 3) successfully piloted the use of native fish species for control of the larval stages of Culex restuans/pipiens, work that has now been funded for an additional 4 year period as part of a multistate Hatch project. Continuing projects will focus on development of local species of predatory microcrustaceans for biological control, on examining the impacts of WNV and nuisance mosquitoes on human behavior and quality of life (with RWJ Fellow Katie Dickinson), and on monitoring the effects of a newly introduced species (Aedes japonicus japonicus) on transmission of La Crosse virus and WNV (with local public health departments and the State Division of Health). Undergraduates were involved in mosquito research with projects that centered on tests of mosquito control methods that are marketed or promoted to our citizens, including CO2-generating backyard traps and ingestion of Vitamin B1 (with Prof. Tony Ives, Zoology) or bananas.
Tick-borne disease remains an important issue for Wisconsin with the incidence of Lyme disease increasing dramatically since 2002. Over the past 10 years, projects focused on identification of risk levels in high-use urban forests and on identifying determinants of tick distribution in the state. Currently, in collaboration with the State Division of Health, we are investigating the expansion of the range of Ixodes scapularis in eastern Wisconsin. In collaboration with CDC and Prof. Ken Raffa’s group, we are also examining the ecology and effects of changes in forest structure on the dynamics of tick populations and Lyme disease infection rates.
Publications
Online Profiles
Recent Publications
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PloS one. pmid:41984774, pmc:PMC13082594, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0342150
Roadside stormwater catch basins are frequently treated with larvicides in metropolitan areas because they are ideal larval growth sites for West Nile virus (WNV) vector species Culex pipiens Linnaeus and Cx. restuans (Theobald). Despite the wide-spread implementation of catch basin treatments in integrated vector management programs, there is little entomological evidence to suggest catch basin larvicide treatments reduce adult mosquito abundance and thereby impact WNV risk. We evaluated the…
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Journal of medical entomology. pmid:41697910, doi:10.1093/jme/tjag009
Ticks and tick-borne diseases pose a significant public health threat in the United States, particularly in the Northeast and Upper Midwest. Tick control operations are predominately focused on private residential properties. Surveys of publicly funded vector control programs have indicated that high use public lands may be viable targets for future tick control activities if funding is available. However, little is known about the feasibility of implementing tick control activities on these…
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Ecology and evolution. pmid:41132808, pmc:PMC12541286, doi:10.1002/ece3.72360
Since the 1970s, the Midwestern USA has experienced an expansion of blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis), the primary vector of Lyme disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, leading to increased Lyme disease incidence. Public health surveillance indicates that Northwestern Wisconsin has served as refugia for these ticks, seeding an expansion into neighboring states such as Michigan. However, the process of re-emergence and invasion remains unclear. To improve tick management, we examine whether…
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PloS one. pmid:41021612, pmc:PMC12478903, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0332621
S-methoprene, an insect growth regulator, and Lysinibacillus sphaericus (Ls), an entomopathogenic bacterium, are important larvicides used to control Culex pipiens [L.] mosquitoes, the primary vector of West Nile virus, in the Chicago, IL USA region. Resistance to both agents has been documented globally including a report of resistance ratios greater than 100 to S-methoprene in the Chicago region. Laboratory studies have suggested the potential for unidirectional cross-resistance between…
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Ticks and tick-borne diseases. pmid:40773902, pmc:PMC12435866, doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102531
Ticks and tickborne diseases are of increasing concern in the United States, and the burden is high in certain focal areas. While the acceptability of various tick control and disease prevention methods has been studied, the public’s willingness to pay for environmental interventions at the individual or community level is less well described. Using data collected as part of a larger survey, we performed an additional analysis of residents of Lyme disease-endemic counties of Michigan, Minnesota,…
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PloS one. pmid:40489419, pmc:PMC12148167, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0324194
Insecticide resistance (IR) is an increasing problem globally, making control of vector-borne diseases more difficult. Reduced susceptibility to permethrin in Culex pipiens, an important vector for West Nile virus, has been reported across the US based on a standardized laboratory method: the CDC bottle bioassay. This bioassay uses a rapid phenotypic outcome to reveal evidence for IR, but how this translates to the effectiveness of formulated products used in an operational setting is unclear….
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Journal of medical entomology. pmid:40384496, pmc:PMC12754835, doi:10.1093/jme/tjaf053
Tick checks are a free and accessible personal protection measure used to prevent tick bites and are frequently recommended by public health institutions and vector-borne disease researchers. However, little is known about how successful people are at detecting ticks on themselves or others when using this method. We developed a tool for evaluating factors affecting the efficacy of tick checks using mannequins. In 2022 and 2023, we recruited 207 participants to complete a brief survey and…
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Scientific reports. pmid:39097646, pmc:PMC11297970, doi:10.1038/s41598-024-69066-3
Insect growth regulators, like S-methoprene, are heavily relied upon worldwide for larval mosquito chemical control due to their target specificity and long-lasting effects. In this study, susceptibility to S-methoprene was evaluated in Culex pipiens, a globally important vector species. Populations from 14 sites throughout the Chicago area with a long history of S-methoprene use and two sites with minimal use in Wisconsin were examined. Using a bioassay methodology and probit analyses, LC(50)…
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Molecular ecology. pmid:38963031, doi:10.1111/mec.17460
Tick vectors and tick-borne disease are increasingly impacting human populations globally. An important challenge is to understand tick movement patterns, as this information can be used to improve management and predictive modelling of tick population dynamics. Evolutionary analysis of genetic divergence, gene flow and local adaptation provides insight on movement patterns at large spatiotemporal scales. We develop low coverage, whole genome resequencing data for 92 blacklegged ticks, Ixodes…
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Journal of medical entomology. pmid:38527268, pmc:PMC12102602, doi:10.1093/jme/tjae041
Since the introduction of West Nile virus (WNV) to the United States over 20 years ago, thousands of cases of human disease and death have been reported. Yearly seasonal outbreaks continue to persist, and the city and suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, is considered a “hot spot” for WNV activity. To interrupt WNV transmission, ground ultra-low volume (ULV) adulticide applications are regularly used to reduce Culex pipiens L. and Culex restuans Theobold (Diptera: Culicidae) abundance and infection….
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Frontiers in nutrition. pmid:37497060, pmc:PMC10368478, doi:10.3389/fnut.2023.1157811
Small-scale farming of edible insects could help combat public health challenges such as protein energy malnutrition and anemia, but reliable low-cost feeds for insects are needed. In resource-limited contexts, where grains such as maize are prohibitively costly for use as insect feed, the feasibility of insect farming may depend on finding alternatives. Here, we explore the potential to modify plentiful maize crop residue with edible mushroom mycelium to generate a low-cost feed adjunct for the…
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Journal of medical entomology. pmid:37473814, doi:10.1093/jme/tjad088
West Nile virus (WNV) invaded the continental United States over 20 years ago and continues to cause yearly seasonal outbreaks of human and veterinary disease. In the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, ultra-low volume (ULV) truck-mounted adulticide spraying frequently is performed to reduce populations of Culex restuans Theobald and Cx. pipiens L. mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in an effort to lower the risk of WNV transmission. The effectiveness of this control method has not been rigorously…
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Ticks and tick-borne diseases. pmid:37001417, doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102163
Research initiatives that engage the public (i.e., community science or citizen science) increasingly provide insights into tick exposures in the United States. However, these data have important caveats, particularly with respect to reported travel history and tick identification. Here, we assessed whether a smartphone application, The Tick App, provides reliable and novel insights into tick exposures across three domains – travel history, broad spatial and temporal patterns of species-specific…
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Vaccine: X. pmid:36654838, pmc:PMC9841169, doi:10.1016/j.jvacx.2022.100259
Globally, zoonotic spillover is becoming more frequent and represents a growing public health concern. Reservoir-targeted vaccination offers an intriguing alternative to traditional vaccine practices by establishing protection in wild populations that maintain the natural pathogen cycle. As an important pathogen reservoir, Peromyscus leucopus Rafinesque or the white-footed mouse has been the target of several experimental vaccines. However, strategies are limited by the method of administration,…
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Journal of medical entomology. pmid:36484651, doi:10.1093/jme/tjac170
West Nile virus remains the leading cause of arboviral neuroinvasive disease in the United States, despite extensive efforts to control the mosquito vectors involved in transmission. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of Altosid SR-20 (active ingredient, S-methoprene 20%) larvicide applications using truck-mounted ultra-low volume (ULV) dispersal equipment to target Culex pipiens Linnaeus (Diptera: Culicidae) and Cx. restuans (Theobald)larvae. A combination of emergence bioassays,…
Selected Publications
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Selected Presentations
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Teaching
Teaching Schedule
- CALS 155: Interdisciplinary seminar for freshman (1 Cr)
- Entom 371: Medical Entomology (3 Cr) spring semester alternate years
- Entom 351: Medical/veterinary entomology module
- Entom 375: Introduction to Global Health (3 Cr) spring semester
Courses Taught
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Honors and Awards
- Vilas Associate Award, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2006-08)
- Pound Research Award, University of Wisconsin-Madison (1998)
Professional Societies
- American Mosquito Control Association
- American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
- Entomological Society of America
- Society for Invertebrate Pathology