Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Research Project #446307

Research Project: Molecular Characterization and Epidemiological Surveillance of Arboviruses in Kenya’s Wildlife

Location: Foreign Arthropod Borne Animal Disease Research

Project Number: 3022-32000-024-018-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jul 15, 2024
End Date: Jul 14, 2026

Objective:
The objective of this agreement is to develop and apply new technology to detect and characterize arboviruses present in Kenyan wildlife that could pose emerging animal disease threats and develop a baseline of virus population variability. Study areas will be selected to inform predictive models regarding climate change and wildlife-livestock interaction on arbovirus emergence and diversity.

Approach:
At least three targeted study sites will be selected to represent different geographical areas including areas near a livestock/wildlife interface. This will assess geographical variation and the impact of livestock encroachment into wild areas. Also sampling these habitats over time will allow for modeling of how virus circulation (host-vector-virus) interactions will change in a changing climate. Sera and blood samples from wildlife and arthropod vectors collected where possible will then be assayed by different techniques for arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses).