Abstract
Recently, exotic mosquito-borne viral zoonoses have taken up residence around the European continent. The need for better vigilance has been growing since the late 1990s, as the increased globalization of trade gives invading mosquitoes more opportunities to penetrate into Europe. Animals and birds could be severely affected by zoonotic diseases as well as functioning as reservoirs for virus amplification and subsequent transmission via vectors to humans and cause disease. More research regarding potential vectors and comprehensive surveillance is needed. To meet the need of research in Sweden, we propose to: - identify mosquitoes by high-throughput genetic characterization. - identify mosquito-borne viruses. - model spatial and temporal conditions favourable for prevalence of disease causing mosquito vectors. - develop a model for studying competence of Nordic mosquitoes to spread emerging zoonotic diseases METHODS Mosquitoes will be sampled for two field seasons at seven locations and prevalence data will be used to obtain a preliminary model of correlation between habitats and species.. High-throughput genetic typing of mosquitoes will be performed by Metabarcoding. Identification of mosquito viruses will occur through genetic detection by RT-PCR technology, whole genome sequencing and virus culture. The competence of Nordic mosquitoes to harbor and transfer Rift Valley fever virus will be determined and used as a model for mosquito competence.
Sweden