Roadmap for Vector Transmission Control (VTC)

What are we trying to achieve and why? What is the problem we are trying to solve?

Define the hosts of the various vector species that transmit livestock and poultry pathogens.
Establish the host ranges of particular vectors including when and where the vectors are opportunistically feeding in order to survive in the absence of livestock or poultry hosts

What are the scientific and technological challenges (knowledge gaps needing to be addressed)?

• Field sampling in areas where the pathogens are known to be present is required to find opportunistic hosts and to then accurately identify the range of vector species
• Determining whether host range varies with life-cycle stage of vectors
• Modelling how climate change will influence the vector range since the hosts are expected to have larger and/or different ranges in response to climate change (rain, heat, humidity)
• Determining which chemical molecules emitted by hosts are responsible for vector attractivity and how we can use this knowledge to reduce vector populations by the push-pull strategy of control
• Determining the molecular basis for host preferences
• Determining whether the emission of attractants differs by breeds of livestock

What approaches could/should be taken to address the research question?

• Field collection to determine range and analysis of gut contents to determine host species (both preferred and opportunistic)
• Development of more effective traps for mosquitoes and tsetse flies, taking into account their chemical ecology and host preferences both to control the vectors and for sampling them

What else needs to be done before we can solve this need?

Determine their chemical ecology

Existing knowledge including successes and failures

Some work on tsetse fly attractants and repellents is being done to implement a push-pull strategy of control (i.e., repel from the hosts and attract to the traps)