Building capability against vector-borne diseases - Core Funded

Objective 1. Develop knowledge of new and emerging vector-borne virus diseases of livestock through horizon scanning activities including regular review of the vector-borne disease scientific literature and reports, maintenance of expertise in notifiable vector–borne diseases and developing collaborations with international partners (EU reference laboratories, OIE experts). This objective will address the prevention and control of notifiable and emerging vector-borne viruses through identification of gaps in the UK capability to respond to emerging viruses and adapting the testing capacity of APHA to respond to vector-borne diseases. Collaborative links will be maintained with Public Health England to continue monitoring UK mosquito and tick populations and to provide a source of arthropod samples. This will enable APHA to maintain capability to respond to tick-borne diseases. Examples of tick-borne viruses causing disease in livestock include endemic louping ill virus and exotic viruses such as Spanish goat encephaltitis virus and Nairobi sheep disease virus. The impact of climatic changes will also be assessed and how they influence vector-borne disease transmission. Objective 2. Development of rapid detection of mosquito-borne livestock diseases. This objective will develop knowledge and support prevention and control of notifiable and emerging vector-borne diseases. It will also increase APHA’s diagnostic capability through the development of rapid screening methods for detection of Japanese encephalitis in livestock. Tests developed in Objective 2 will be used to detect virus infection in experiments in Objective 3. Objective 3. Investigate the vectorial capacity of British mosquitoes for emerging livestock viruses and investigate the impact of climate change on the ability of mosquitoes to be infected with and transmit viruses. This objective will increase our existing knowledge base and provide data to improve future options of prevention and control for notifiable and emerging vector-borne diseases. Key parameters, such as the minimum extrinsic incubation period, associated with the ability of UK mosquitoes to transmit arthropod derived viruses will be vital in developing future control strategies. Infected samples generated in Objective 3 will be used to assist in the validation of tests developed in Objective 2.