Project Number: 5430-32000-003-07
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 01, 2011
End Date: Aug 31, 2014

Objective:
The primary purpose of this agreement is to establish a general framework for cooperation and establish a mechanism by which ABADRU and USAMRIID will collaborate in research on the potential for Rift Valley Fever Virus transmission by arthropod vectors in North America. It also establishes a relationship whereby each research entity can call upon the other for advice concerning research methodology and directions.

Approach:
A basic understanding of North American mosquito species susceptibility to Rift Valley fever virus infection and the subsequent interactions is needed in the event of an outbreak in the United States. To understand the propagation of Rift Valley fever in mosquitoes, three components will be examined in this agreement. 1) The effects of temperature on virus movement within the mosquito also known as the extrinsic incubation period; 2) Whether there is reassortment of Rift Valley fever viral genes within mosquitoes; and 3) The extent of transovarial transmission or vertical transmission of Rift Valley fever virus in North American mosquitoes from infected females to their offspring.