Kiki Streng

Project

Track: 8, Arbovirus impact in livestock

Promotor

Prof. Dr. Wim van der Poel

Co-promoter(s)

Prof. dr. Marion Koopmans, dr. Fred de Boer

Institute

Wageningen University & Research, Quantitative Veterinary Medicine

Description PhD project

Arboviruses can be of major risk to public health in the Netherlands. As a significant part of these viruses are zoonotic, there is a certain impact on animals as well. The Netherlands has a high livestock, equine and pet density and import (and export) of animals is common. For some emerging arboviruses, mammals only serve as dead-end hosts, while other viruses may pose a serious threat to animal health. This PhD research aims to 1) perform a baseline seroprevalence study for a number of arboviruses in livestock, equines, pets and 2) wildlife. This will be accomplished by using livestock samples which have been collected for infectious disease monitoring projects, already in place. Next to this, additional sampling campaigns will be set up for equines, pets and as appropriate for wildlife samples. To be prepared for when outbreaks or high-risk situations occur, 3) a risk-based response surveillance protocol will be developed focusing on susceptible animal species and multiple arboviruses. Finally, 4) we aim to assess the influence of changes in livestock farming on the risk of introduction and spread of arboviruses in the Netherlands. In the end, outcomes of this PhD research will be incorporated in models made by other members of the consortium. These models will work on early warning indicators, prediction of tipping points, species specific areas of interest etc. In this way, outcome of this research will contribute to the preparedness for emerging arboviruses and their risk for animal and public health.

Research questions / objectives

Determine the baseline seroprevalence of arboviruses in domestic animals
Determine the baseline seroprevalence of arboviruses in wildlife (ruminants, potentially zoo animals)
Development of a risk-based arbovirus surveillance plan and response protocol for domesticated mammals and some wildlife species
Effects of changes in the Dutch livestock industry and their influence on the risk of arbovirus outbreak and spread

Timeline

Tags matching with the contents of track 8

Methods

Labwork
- ELISA: I will use ELISA tests as a screening method for determining the baseline seroprevalence of several arboviruses in multiple animal species
- Virus neutralization: These tests will be used as confirmatory tests if screening ELISA tests have a positive result
Fieldwork
- Mosquito trapping: Mosquitoes will be trapped at livestock barns to determine presence and abundance
- Wildlife trapping/sampling/surveillance: Samples of large ruminants, equines and potentially zoo animals will be used in a seroprevalence study
- Domestic animal trapping/sampling/surveillance: Samples of livestock, equines and pets will be used in a seroprevalence study
Modelling
- Species distribution: To estimate the risk of introduction or spread among (domestic) animals, species distribution maps will be developed

Topics

Vector:
- Vector abundance: Will be determined at several livestock barns of different animal species (to compare outside and inside abundance of mosquitoes)
Host:
- Host abundance: Overview of relevant domestic (and some wild) host species will be developed
- Host susceptibility: This will be taken into account to estimate the impact of introduction or outbreak of a certain arbovirus in the Netherlands
- Host Seroprevalence: Baseline seroprevalence (antibodies) of several arboviruses will be determined in multiple animal species
Interventions:
- Improved surveillance( response surveillance): Response surveillance strategies will be developed which can be implemented at high-risk areas or in outbreak situations.
- Diagnostics: Possibly new diagnostic methods will be developed for improving screening and surveillance strategies for multiple arboviruses in mammals.

Species

Species:
- Mosquito: Mosquitoes will be captured at livestock barns (to determine their presence and abundance inside and outside barns)
- Domestic animal: Will be used in seroprevalence studies. Surveillance protocols for arboviruses in these animal species will be developed.
- Wild mammal: Will be used in seroprevalence studies. Surveillance protocols for arboviruses in these animal species (wild ruminants, equines and possibly zoo animals) will be developed.

Virus

Virus:
- West Nile virus: Baseline seroprevalence will be established and response surveillance protocols will be developed
- Usutu Virus: Baseline seroprevalence will be established and response surveillance protocols will be developed
- Japanese Encephalitis Virus: Baseline seroprevalence will be established and response surveillance protocols will be developed
- Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus: Baseline seroprevalence will be established and response surveillance protocols will be developed
- Sindbis Virus: Baseline seroprevalence will be established and response surveillance protocols will be developed