Use of vector diagnostics during military deployments: recent experience in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, and leishmaniasis are a threat to military forces deployed outside of the United States. The availability of specific information on the vector-borne disease threat (e.g., presence or absence of a specific disease agent, temporal and geographic distribution of competent vectors, and vector infection rates) allows for effective implementation of appropriate measures to protect our deployed military forces. Vector diagnostics can provide critical, real-time information crucial to establishing effective vector prevention/control programs. In this article we provide an overview of current vector diagnostic capabilities, evaluate the use of vector diagnostics in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and discuss the concept of operations under which vector diagnostics are employed.
Coleman
Russell E
RE
Department of Entomology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
Hochberg
Lisa P
LP
Putnam
John L
JL
Swanson
Katherine I
KI
Lee
John S
JS
McAvin
James C
JC
Chan
Adeline S
AS
Oguinn
Monica L
ML
Ryan
Jeffry R
JR
Wirtz
Robert A
RA
Moulton
John K
JK
Dave
Kirti
K
Faulde
Michael K
MK
D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D000818:Animals; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D004199:Disease Vectors; D006801:Humans; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000453:epidemiology; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008889:Military Personnel; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic