Prof Scott Ritchie ~ Adjunct Professor
College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences
- About
-
- Research Disciplines
- Socio-Economic Objectives
I lead a diverse group of health practitioners and research scientists whose collective goal is to prevent vector-borne disease, especially dengue, in north Queensland.
We have received two NHMRC grants to develop green “Lure and Kill” dengue control programs for North Queensland. I have been a principal investigator in the Eliminate Dengue program funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation since its inception in 2005. This innovative project utilises the bacterium Wolbachia to prevent the dengue vector Aedes aegypti from transmitting dengue viruses. This partnership has already developed a molecular method to estimate the age of individual mosquitoes, and demonstrated that the parasite can effectively work in the laboratory and in semi-field cages. We are currently evaluating open field releases of Wolbachia-infected Ae. aegypti mosquitoes in Cairns.
I am also involved in new projects studying the potential impact of global warming on dengue in Australia, new pesticides for the control of Ae. aegypti and the development of novel mosquito traps for the detection of pathogens in mosquitoes and other disease vectors.
I was employed as Director, Medical Entomology at the Tropical Regional Services (formerly Tropical Public Health Unit), the preventative health arm of Queensland Health in North Queensland, from 1994-2011. There I have helped develop the world recognised Dengue Fever Management Plan for North Queensland.
- Publications
-
These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.
- Journal Articles
-
- Amos B, Staunton K, Ritchie S and Cardé R (2020) Attraction versus capture: efficiency of BG-Sentinel trap under semi-field conditions and characterizing response behaviors for female Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae). Journal of Medical Entomology, 57 (3), pp. 884-892, DOI:10.1093/jme/tjz243.
- Pagendam D, Trewin B, Snoad N, Ritchie S, Hoffman A, Staunton K, Paton C and Beebe N (2020) Modelling the Wolbachia incompatible insect technique: strategies for effective mosquito population elimination. BMC Biology, 18, Article: 161, DOI:10.1186/s12915-020-00887-0.
- Ross P, Axford J, Yang Q, Staunton K, Ritchie S, Richardson K and Hoffman A (2020) Heatwaves cause fluctuations in wMel Wolbachia densities and frequencies in Aedes aegypti. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 14 (1), Article: e0007958, DOI:10.1371/journal.pntd.0007958.
- Staunton K, Crawford J, Liu J, Townsend M, Han Y, Desnoyer M, Howell P, Xiang W, Burkot T, Snoad N and Ritchie S (in press) A low-powered and highly selective trap for male Aedes (Diptera: Culicidae) surveillance: the male Aedes sound trap. Journal of Medical Entomology, , DOI:10.1093/jme/tjaa151.
- Staunton K, Crawford J, Cornel D, Yeeles P, Desnoyer M, Livni J, Holeman J, Mulligan S, Snoad N and Ritchie S (2020) Environmental influences on Aedes aegypti catches in Biogents Sentinel traps during a Californian "rear and release" program: implications for designing surveillance programs. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 14 (6), Article: e0008367, DOI:10.1371/journal.pntd.0008367.
- Staunton K, Rohde B, Townsend M, Liu J, Desnoyer M, Howell P, Amos B, Crawford J, Snoad N and Ritchie S (in press) Investigating male Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) attraction to different oviposition containers using various configurations of the sound gravid Aedes trap. Journal of Medical Entomology, , DOI:10.1093/jme/tjz229.
- Swann T, Russell T, Burkot T, Liu J, Ritchie S and Staunton K (in press) The effect of sound lure frequency and habitat type on male Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) capture rates with the male Aedes sound trap. Journal of Medical Entomology, , DOI:10.1093/jme/tjaa242.
- Duffield G, Acri D, George G, Sheppard A, Beebe N, Ritchie S and Burkot T (2019) Diel flight activity of wild-caught Anopheles farauti (s.s.) and An. hinesorum malaria mosquitoes from northern Queensland, Australia. Parasites & Vectors, 12, Article: 48, DOI:10.1186/s13071-018-3271-0.
- Dunbar M, Correa-Morales F, Dzul-Manzanilla F, Medina-Barreiro A, Bibiano-Marín W, Morales-Ríos E, Vadillo-Sánchez J, López-Monroy B, Ritchie S, Lenhart A, Manrique-Saide P and Vazquez-Prokopec G (2019) Efficacy of novel indoor residual spraying methods targeting pyrethroid-resistant aedes aegypti within experimental houses. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 13 (2), Article: e0007203, DOI:10.1371/journal.pntd.0007203.
- Hancock P, Ritchie S, Koenraadt C, Scott T, Hoffmann A and Godfray H (2019) Predicting the spatial dynamics of Wolbachia infections in Aedes aegypti arbovirus vector populations in heterogeneous landscapes. Journal of Applied Ecology, 56 (7), pp. 1674-1686, DOI:10.1111/1365-2664.13423.
- McLaughlin K, Russell T, Apairamo A, Bugoro H, Oscar J, Cooper R, Beebe N, Ritchie S and Burkot T (2019) Smallest Anopheles farauti occur during the peak transmission season in the Solomon Islands. Malaria Journal, 18, Article: 208, DOI:10.1186/s12936-019-2847-2.
- Meyer Steiger D, Ramirez Lopez A, van den Hurk A, Kurucz N and Ritchie S (2019) Development and field evaluation of a system to collect mosquito excreta for the detection of arboviruses. Journal of Medical Entomology, 56 (4), pp. 1116-1121, DOI:10.1093/jme/tjz031.
- More
-
ResearchOnline@JCU stores 185+ research outputs authored by Prof Scott Ritchie from 1998 onwards.
- Current Funding
-
Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.
Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre Limited - Research Seed Grants
Protecting north Queensland from Aedes albopictus, an exotic dengue vector, with Attractive Targeted Sugar Baits (ATSB)
- Indicative Funding
- $50,000 over 2 years
- Summary
- Aedes albopictus, a documented vector of dengue, Zika and chikungunya, is one of the fastest spreading invasive species worldwide, and was first detected in the Torres Strait in 2005. This pilot project will lay the foundation required to assess the feasibility of Attractive Targeted Sugar Baits (ATSB) to control Aedes albopictus. The overall objective is to determine the frequency that mosquitos? sugar feed, a parameter critical to the success of ATSBs. This pilot data will be leveraged for funding to trial the use of ATSBs to stop Ae. albopictus from reaching the mainland.
- Investigators
- Tanya Russell, Tom Burkot, Kyran Staunton, Scott Ritchie and Thomas Swan in collaboration with Mutizwa Muzari (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine, College of Public Health and Medical & Vet Sciences)
- Keywords
- Aedes Albopictus; Attractive Toxic Sugar Bait; Torres Strait; Dengue
National Health & Medical Research Council - Centres of Research Excellence
Australian Partnership (for) Preparedness Research on INfectiouS (disease) Emergencies (APPRISE)
- Indicative Funding
- $20,000 over 6 years (administered by University of Melbourne)
- Summary
- To ensure national and regional health security, emergency responses to infectious diseases must be highly effective, coordinated and based on the best available evidence. Research coordination, adaptable research protocols and efficient, secure data sharing are needed to develop a strong evidence base for preparedness, response and recovery from such events. This national consortium, with engagement of key animal health, community and international collaborators will focus on the major infectious diseases threats including influenza, coronaviruses, haemorrhagic viral diseases, arboviruses, syndromic presentations of novel pathogens and antimicrobial resistance. JCU involvement is through Prof. Ritchie and Peter Massey who are Ais on the project, offering advise. No funds are provided to JCU.
- Investigators
- Sharon Lewin, Tania Sorrell, Jodie McVernon, Steve Webb, John Kaldor, ross andrews, Allen Cheng, Gwendolyn Gilbert, David Smith, Soren Alexandersen and Scott Ritchie in collaboration with Peter Massey (The University of Melbourne, Westmead Millennium Institute, The University of Western Australia, The University of New South Wales, Menzies School of Health Research, Monash University, The University of Sydney, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Deakin University, College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences and College of Medicine & Dentistry)
- Keywords
- Tropical Health; Mosquito; Dengue; Zika
Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation - Research Grant
Beyond Thursday Island: Expanding the current Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus) control program across the Torres Strait
- Indicative Funding
- $25,000 over 2 years
- Summary
- Mosquitoes are uncontestably one of the deadliest animals in the world. Our project will investigate the Asian Tiger Mosquito (ATM), a major dengue vector in the TS. Outcomes of this project will directly benefit the people of FNQ. The overall purpose of this research is to investigate the ecology, distribution and dispersal of the ATM on islands in the TS. This project will gain information about the ecology, location and movement of the ATM on and between islands. This knowledge will form the basis for a potential surveillance tool for the ATM in the Torres Strait, which will reduce locally transmitted dengue and chikungunya viruses in FNQ.
- Investigators
- Scott Ritchie, Thomas Swan and Tom Burkot (College of Public Health and Medical & Vet Sciences)
- Keywords
- Tropical Health; Dengue; Zika; Aedes Albopictus (Culicidae)
Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation - Research Grant
Metofluthrin, a targeted intervention for high-risk persons during Zika, dengue, and emerging mosquito-borne disease outbreaks in far north Queensland
- Indicative Funding
- $24,000 over 1 year
- Summary
- In far north Queensland we have one of the world's most important mosquito vectors of dengue, Zika, and other viruses of public health significance. In this study, we look at interventions to protect high risk individuals from vector-borne disease in the event an outbreak scenario.
- Investigators
- Tamara Buhagiar and Scott Ritchie in collaboration with Gregor Devine (College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences and Queensland Institute of Medical Research)
- Keywords
- Aedes aegypti; Dengue; Vector Control; Zika; Intervention; Emerging Infectious Diseases
National Health & Medical Research Council - Northern Australia Tropical Disease Collaborative Research Programme Hot North Fellowship
Application for Next Generation Sequencing of mosquito excreta to identify arboviruses, microorganisms and mosquito species
- Indicative Funding
- $35,000 over 1 year (administered by Menzies School of Health Research)
- Summary
- Traditional testing for arboviruses in mosquitoes requires a priori knowledge and choosing appropriate assays for their detection. Mosquitoes can potentially provide a lot of additional information, including other unexpected or unknown arboviruses, and their own genetic material. Moreover, mosquitoes in effect act as environmental samplers (?flying syringes?), taking blood from the humans and animals they feed upon. These blood samples could potentially be infected with other pathogens that are not necessarily mosquito-transmitted. Next generation sequencing is a rapidly advancing technology that allows us to obtain all this information from a sample without any prior knowledge of virus, host or vector. We are proposing to use next generation sequencing of mosquito excreta to identify pathogens in mosquitoes collected from locations where different vertebrate groups inhabit, including urban areas, bat colonies, domesticated animals, marsupials, reptiles and avian hosts.
- Investigators
- Andrew van den Hurk, Scott Ritchie, Dagmar Meyer Steiger, David Warrilow, Alyssa Pyke, Ana Ramirez Lopez and Michael Townsend (Queensland Health Forensic & Scientific Services, College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences and Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine)
- Keywords
- Arbovirus; Mosquito; Next Generation Sequencing
National Health & Medical Research Council - Research Fellowship
Senior Research Fellowship A
- Indicative Funding
- $718,826 over 6 years
- Summary
- North Queensland and the adjacent tropics are subject to incursions of exotic mosquitoes and the diseases they vector, especially dengue. I lead a diverse group of health researchers at JCU that develop strategies to prevent vector-borne disease in North Queensland that have global application. I am also employed as a consultant medical entomologies with Queensland Health, and thus am able to strategically apply my research on vector-borne diseases to end users.
- Investigators
- Scott Ritchie (College of Public Health and Medical & Vet Sciences)
- Keywords
- Arbovirus; Arbovirus diseases; Mosquito -borne disease; Dengue; Encephalitis
- Supervision
-
Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.
These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.
- Current
-
- Larval density and adult fitness in Anopheles farauti: Towards understanding how larval control may impact transmission by adults (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
- Ecological Investigations and Control of Mosquito Disease Vectors (Aedes Aegypti and Aedes Albopictus) in the Torres Strait (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
- Survey of Dengue Fever Vectors and its Serotype Viruses in Solomon Islands (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
- Completed
-
- When worlds collide: where and when anophelines and humans interact (2020, PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
- Using mosquito excreta to enhance mosquito-borne disease surveillance (2019, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
- Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) communities across land uses in tropical Australia (2016, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
- Data
-
These are the most recent metadata records associated with this researcher. To see a detailed description of all dataset records, visit the JCU Research Data Catalogue.
- Swan, T. (2020) Dataset for: The effect of sound lure frequency and habitat type on male Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) capture rates with the Male Aedes Sound Trap. James Cook University
- Ramirez Lopez, A. (2019) Dataset describing the detection of Plasmodium falciparum in mosquito excreta and saliva. James Cook University
- Ramirez Lopez, A. (2019) Dataset describing stability of WNV RNA in mosquito excreta. James Cook University
- Ramirez Lopez, A. (2019) Dataset describing detection or RRV and WNV in mosquito excreta. James Cook University
- McLaughlin, K. (2019) Dataset describing the longitudinal density and wing length of anophelines in Solomon Islands. James Cook University
- Collaboration
-
The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.- 5+ collaborations
- 4 collaborations
- 3 collaborations
- 2 collaborations
- 1 collaboration
- Indicates the Tropics (Torrid Zone)
Connect with me
- Location
-
- Advisory Accreditation
- Advisor Mentor (P)
- Find me on…
-
My research areas
Similar to me
-
Dr Peter YeelesCollege of Science & Engineering
-
Prof Tom BurkotAustralian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine
-
Dr Kyran StauntonAustralian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine
-
Dr Dagmar Meyer SteigerAustralian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine
-
Dr Tamara BuhagiarAustralian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine