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Estimation of the vector spectrum for the transmission / spread of West Nile virus (WNV) and Rift Valley fever virus (RVF)
Project
Project code: 2810HS022
Contract period: 01.06.2011
- 31.01.2014
Budget: 573,394 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
So far, Germany has remained unaffected by cases of WNV and RVFV infections. In the recent past, however, WNV caused several epidemics with fatal cases among horses and humans in other, more southern European countries while RVFV, originally occurring only in South and East Africa, managed to spread northwards to cause outbreaks in Egypt and the Arabian peninsula. In contrast to bluetongue which struck Central Europe unexpectedly, risk assessments should be made and biological data on the potential viral vectors be collected to avoid, or at least adequately manage, future disease outbreaks of West Nile fever and Rift Valley fever in Germany. Since culicid mosquito research has been neglected in Germany for decades, up-to-date data on the occurrence and distribution, let alone the vector competence, of indigenous mosquito species and populations are missing. The present project therefore suggests to monitor mosquitoes on a Germany-wide scale. Mosquitoes are planned to be collected over a three-year period (2011-2013) at around 50 locations, evenly distributed over Germany, by means of gravid and ovitraps to give an overview over the geographic and seasonal distribution of mosquito species occurring in Germany. The trapped mosquitoes are to be screened for virus infection, including WNV and RVFV, by PCR techniques. Detected viruses will be further analysed and characterised. A database will be set up that collects mosquito and mosquito collection site data and is meant to serve as a basis for future mosquito collections in Germany. The collected mosquitoes are also intended to establish and standardize laboratory colony breeding for future vector competence studies.
Section overview
Subjects
- Animal health
- Special animal species
- Climate Change
