Vector capacity traits of Swiss mosquitoes from putative ‘hot spots’ for West Nile virus introduction/transmission

• Research unit: FSVO
• Project number: 1.12.17

Key words (German)

West Nil Virus, Stechmücken, Vektorkompetenz, saisonale Häufigkeit, Wirtspräferenz, Feuchtgebiet; Stadtrand

Key words (English)

West Nile virus, mosquito, vector competence, seasonal abundance, host preference, wetlands, suburbia

Short description (German)

Das West Nil Virus (WNV) zirkuliert lokal in Süd- und Osteuropa, und es hat sich in der letzten Dekade in neue Gebiete, z.B. im Nordosten Italiens, ausgebreitet. In diesem Projekt schlagen wir vor, die Diversität, saisonalen Häufigkeiten und Wirtspräferenzen von Mücken an Orten zu erheben, welche mögliche ‚Hotspots‘ der Einschleppung/Übertragung von WNV in der Schweiz (ausgedehnte Feuchtgebiete und Stadtränder nördlich und südlich der Alpen) sind sowie die WNV-Vektorkompetenz von Schweizer Mückenpopulationen experimentell unter verschiedenen realistischen Bedingungen zu bestimmen. Diese Arbeit wird Grunddaten über die Vektorkapazität von verschiedenen, als mögliche WNV-Vektoren identifizierten Mückenarten liefern und wesentlich zur Ausarbeitung einer Risikoabschätzung der WNV-Übertragung in der Schweiz beitragen.

Short description (English)

West Nile virus (WNV) is circulating locally in Southern and Eastern Europe, and over the last decade it has spread to new areas, e.g. north-eastern Italy. With this project, we suggest to assess the diversity, seasonal abundances and host preferences of mosquitoes at places considered as putative ‘hot spots’ for WNV introduction/transmission in Switzerland (extended wetlands and suburban sites on either side of the Alpine crest) and to experimentally determine the vector competence of Swiss mosquito populations for WNV under different realistic environmental conditions. This work will provide basic data on the vector capacity of the various mosquito species identified as putative vectors for WNV and will essentially contribute towards devising a risk assessment of WNV transmission in Switzerland.

Project aims (English)

The objectives of the project are to assess the diversity, seasonal abundances and host preferences of mosquitoes at places considered as putative ‘hot spots’ for WNV introduction/transmission in Switzerland (extended wetlands and suburban sites on either side of the Alpine crest) and to determine the competence of Swiss mosquito populations to transmit WNV under different realistic environmental conditions. This work will provide basic data on the vector capacity of the various mosquito species for WNV, for both putative enzootic vectors (transmission to birds during amplification cycle) and bridge vectors (transmission to human and other mammals). Thus, the expected results will significantly strengthen the Swiss mosquito species classification in regards to their putative vector role for WNV (Fig. 1) and can fuel efforts to devise a risk assessment of WNV transmission in Switzerland.

Publications / Results (English)

Related documents

• 1.12.17 DB MJB 2015 Mathis.pdf [PDF] 173 kB

URL-addresses (German)

1.12.17 Mathis Vektorkapazitätseigenschaften von Schweizer Mücken aus mutmasslichen Hotspots' für W…