Location: Arthropod-borne Animal Diseases Research
Project Number: 3020-32000-009-010-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 1, 2014
End Date: Jul 31, 2019
Objective:
Evaluate new Rift Valley fever surveillance tools for livestock and wildlife use.
Approach:
Rift Valley fever (RVF) is insect-transmitted viral disease that affects wildlife and domestic animals. RVF virus also can cause blindness and lethal disease humans. The ARS has developed diagnostic and surveillance tools for these viruses and the insects that transmit them. This technology will be transferred to Kenya Agricultural Research Institute. This includes detection of viral genomes using real-time RT-PCR assays. This is a rapid method estimating viremia and for RVF safer to perform than virus isolation. In addition, commercial and new serological assays will be used to detect viral antigens and/or host antibodies to viral proteins. Three locations have been identified with varied ecology. One primarily livestock population, one with a mixed wildlife and livestock population and a third with an only wildlife populations. The KARI will subcontract with the Kenya Wildlife Service staff to access the RVF wildlife surveillance. This project will provide preliminary evaluation of the most efficient tools to use for a larger inter-epidemiology research proposal in development.
