Location: Zoonotic and Emerging Disease Research
Project Number: 3022-32000-021-020-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jun 15, 2025
End Date: May 31, 2027
Objective:
America's agriculture and public health is under constant threat from the importation of known pathogens as well as the emergence or reemergence of novel pathogens. Increasing food demands will drive expanded and higher density agriculture increasing the risk for the introduction or emergence of threats that compromise foods safety and the food supply. The ability to rapidly detect, characterize, and work with these pathogens is a core function of the NBAF mission. This collaborative project partners researchers to 1) assess potential of existing agriculture threats from zoonotic threats 2) investigate the potential risk of emerging or reemerging zoonotic viruses to agriculture.
Approach:
Small and large animal models will be challenged with selected zoonotic threats. These experiments will allow investigation of the disease and the establishment of models for transfer to the NBAF when operational. Experiments will be designed to include target acclimation procedures being proposed for use at ARS. In the first experiment swine will be challenged with Nairobi sheep disease (NSDV) orthonairovius, a zoonotic tick borne arbovirus. Disease course will be characterized. NSDV is selected because of the threat to agriculture and its close relationship to Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, a biosafety level 4 (BSL4) agent on the priority list for work at the NBAF once operational. Samples from challenge experiments will be banked to aid in the development of diagnostics and for use in stand up activities. Subsequent studies will be based on the data from the pilot experiment of NSDV and the availability of novel zoonotic threats.