Let's Talk Mosquitoes with the TIMO-CS Study

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TIMO-CS Spotlight

TIMO-CS Study in Numbers

 

# of classroom visits:
5

# of students taught:
105

 

I’m interested! How do I sign up?

TIMO-CS logo, in English.

To organise an in-class presentation and training session, or to learn more about how to participate in the study as an individual, please contact timo-cs@phac-aspc.gc.ca or complete the online Google Form to indicate your interest.

About the TIMO-CS Study

What is the TIMO-CS study about?
 
The TIMO-CS (Tiger Mosquito Citizen Science) study is a pilot project led by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), in collaboration with Let’s Talk Science Outreach (LTS) at the University of Windsor (https://letstalkscience.ca/outreach/uwindsor) and the Windsor-Essex Public Health Unit (https://www.wechu.org/). It is being conducted from May to September of 2024 focusing on the Windsor-Essex region where Aedes albopictus (commonly known as the tiger mosquito) has been detected since 2016[1]. The TIMO-CS study will complement routine mosquito surveillance in the region by encouraging local residents to help identify the presence of the tiger mosquito where mosquito traps are not set up.

[1] https://www.wechu.org/z-health-topics/aedes-albopictus-mosquito
Why are we interested in the tiger mosquito?

The tiger mosquito, native to South-East Asia, has expanded globally as a result of human trade and travel and is considered one of the top invasive species in the world[2]. This mosquito species is capable of transmitting dengue virus, chikungunya virus, West Nile virus, and many other viruses; thus posing a considerable threat to public health. Recent localised outbreaks of chikungunya and dengue viruses in Europe and the United States, where historically these viruses have not been observed, highlight the importance of monitoring this invasive species. As the tiger mosquito is well adapted to cooler climates, it is of concern to Canada, particularly as it is now established in the Windsor-Essex region where enhanced routine surveillance has consistently reported the presence of this species between 2018 and 2023[3]; though no mosquitoes carrying the virus have been detected so far in the region.

[2] https://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/100_worst.php
[3] https://www.wechu.org/reports/mosquito-surveillance

Who do we want to participant in the TIMO-CS study?
 

Citizen science is fast becoming recognised as an additional public health tool to aid in data collection and awareness of public health concerns. The term citizen refers to everyone in the community of interest (Windsor-Essex, Ontario). Our study is designed to target school age children in May and June (particularly Grades 6 and 7 students due to a focus on biodiversity in the Science curriculum) and their teachers, and summer camps in July and August (targeting ages 10+ students, but not limited to this age group, due to camp-age students typically being younger). As our project requires individuals to physically collect mosquito samples, this study may not be suitable for younger students but the lead investigators would be willing to tailor the program for younger age groups on request.

How will the TIMO-CS study be delivered in schools and summer camps?

The study will include two components, delivered in-person by the lead investigators and LTS volunteers:

  1. An in-class lesson (adaptable activities from between 40 minutes to 1.5 hours):

    The presentation will cover the following topics (topics can be modified for different age groups):
    • Activity 1: An introduction: fun facts about mosquitoes (20 minutes)
    • Activity 2 (core activity): Life cycles of mosquitoes, different mosquito species of public health importance and factors that influence life cycles (20 minutes)
    • Activity 3: Identifying mosquito breeding habitats (15 minutes)
    • Activity 4: Identifying at-risk situations for mosquito bites (15 minutes)
    • Activity 5 (core activity): Protective measures against mosquito bites (15 minutes)
  2. Mosquito data collection training (approximately 20 to 30 minutes, depending on student numbers):

    Participants will be taught how to make a collection tool (pooter) to collect mosquito samples from provided material. The training will also teach participants how to collect mosquitoes with the pooter, how to preserve the mosquitoes for identification, and how to avoid being bitten during collection.

Total time: 1 to 2 hours (timing can be modified for each classroom/camp setting; some activities are optional)

Will the results of the study be shared with study participants?
Regular updates and aggregated study results will be shared as the study progresses.
What language will the study be conducted in?

The lead investigators/volunteers are fluent in either English or French and can present and train in either official language. All classroom materials and data collection tools will be available in both languages.

What are the potential risks of the study and how are we minimising the risk?

This study consists of collecting digital pictures and physical samples of mosquitoes for PHAC. Participants will be trained on how to collect for mosquitoes safely while protecting themselves from mosquito bites. Additional information collected either through an online survey or paper log sheets include the time of capture, location of capture, description of the location (i.e. school, park, residential, campground, etc.), name, telephone number and an email address for follow up, as needed. The security of data collection and storage is therefore of top priority for the lead investigators. The data collected will be stored and analysed in a secure manner to ensure confidentiality and privacy. The PHAC Research Ethics Board (REB) has reviewed a study protocol and has waived the need for an REB because participants in this study are not the subject of the research, but rather, contributors to the research. Participation is voluntary, participants may withdraw from the study at any time without penalty. Withdrawal will not disadvantage participants in any way.

How will the data be used?

The data collected will be used to complement traditional mosquito surveillance in the region; this will help us monitor the distribution of Aedes albopictus in the region more accurately. Additionally, the data will be used to model and forecast future distribution of the tiger mosquito in the region under a changing climate in Canada. The collected samples of mosquitoes will also be used to generate a database of pictures that will be used to develop artificial intelligence models to identify and monitor this invasive species in southern Ontario.

TIMO-CS Privacy notice

The personal information you provide to the Public Health Agency of Canada will be collected by the Public Health Risks Science Division under the authority of the Department of Health Act and the Public Health Agency of Canada Act. Your personal information will be handled in accordance with the Privacy Act.

Why do we collect your personal information? We need your personal information, such as your first and last name and mailing address, in order to contact you and return the results of the mosquito specimen you sent us.

What happens if you refuse to provide your personal information? If you do not provide your personal information, we will not be able to contact you to follow up on the information provided and we will not be able to return the identification result of the mosquito specimen you collected.

What are your rights? You have the right to access your personal information and to request a correction or a notation of the corrections. You also have the right to file a complaint with the Privacy Commissioner of Canada if you feel that your personal information has not been used appropriately. For more information about these rights or about how we use your personal information, please contact the Public Health Risk Sciences Division of the National Microbiology Laboratory of the Public Health Agency of Canada at timo-cs@phac-aspc.gc.ca.

For further information: The collection of your personal information is described in Info Source at www.infosource.gc.ca.

Consult the Category of Personal Information - Science, Research and Ethics in Public Health PHAC 008 514