Enzootic transmission cycles of Rift Valley Fever and Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever viruses (Bunyaviridae) in Zambia and Mozambique: crossing the livestock - wildlife - human interfaces

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Vector transmitted zoonotic viruses of the order Bunyavirales are highly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, yet their life cycle is poorly understood. Therefore, the consortium aims to address the epidemiology of the highly pathogenic Rift Valley Fever (RVF) and Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) viruses in Mozambique and Zambia, which infect humans, wildlife and livestock, frequently causing deadly hemorrhagic fevers in humans. RVFV is transmitted by a variety of mosquito species while CCHFV is propagated and transmitted by ixodid ticks. Of main interest is the role of enzootic transmission cycles between competent vector and wild reservoir species, and under what biotic and abiotic circumstances those cycles progress into epizootic and epidemic cycles creating outbreaks in human and livestock populations.Field captures and sample collections of various species involved in transmission cycles shall be undertaken in three livestock breeding regions where RVFV and CCHFV outbreaks have arisen before, or may occur in the future. With the latest available diagnostic tools developed and tested by the FLI, the exposure to and presence of the viruses shall be elucidated in livestock, arthropod vector and wildlife species. By molecular screening of the vectors’ bloodmeal the identity, frequency and relative abundance of the different blood hosts will be determined in spatial, environmental and seasonal context. Ultimately, a precise evaluation of the vectors’ competences to transmit these diseases, and the reservoir status of the local wildlife species shall help to understand how inter-epidemic periods permit the circulation of the virus, which can hence advance into epidemic proportions when circumstances are favorable. Apart from scientific interest, the project aims to transfer capacity of knowledge, technology and infrastructure from the German to the African counterparts. Whenever it is feasible, the work is carried out directly at the local institutions in the partner countries. An independently acting, mutually collaborating research partner at eye level to the global science community is our vision.