Univerza na Primorskem Fakulteta za matematiko, naravoslovje in informacijske tehnologije
Več informacij o projektu / More info about the project
Vsebina projekta / Project content
Virusi in paraziti, ki se prenašajo s komarji in peščenimi muhami ter bolezni, ki jih povzročajo so vselej obstajale v Evropi, vendar se je njihova razširjenost in pojavnost pokazala šele ob večjih izbruhih. V zadnjih nekaj letih smo priča širjenju porajajočih se mikroorganizmov tudi na povsem nova področja, kjer jih pred tem nismo poznali. Vzrok za vzpon porajajočih se mikroorganizmov je kompleksna mreža prepletajočih se dejavnikov, ki so posledica neprestanega spreminjanja okolja, podnebja ter povečane mobilnosti ljudi in živali. Spremembe podnebja so se vedno dogajale, vendar je hitrost spreminjanja v zadnjem stoletju izjemna. Zaradi reliefne in podnebne pestrosti Slovenije lahko na posameznih področjih pričakujemo različne podnebne spremembe, ki seveda vplivajo na pojavnost prenašalcev in patogenih mikroorganizmov, ki jih le-ti prenašajo. Zato je nujen enoten pristop vzpostavitve občutljivega nadzornega sistema, ki bo omogočili poznavanje trenutnega stanja, ter zaznal spremembe, ki se prav gotovo bodo dogajale. Glede na obolevnost in smrtnost, so komarji in peščene muhe najnevarnejše skupine prenašalcev za ljudi, saj skoraj polovici svetovnega prebivalstva grozi možnost okužbe s patogeni, ki jih le-ti prenašajo. Med porajajočimi se grožnjami tvorijo arbovirusi (virus Denga, virus Zika, virus rumene mrzlice, virus Zahodnega Nila, virus Chikungunya, virus Usutu, flebovirusi in virus Sindbis) in nekateri paraziti (lišmanija, plazmodiji…) edinstveno skupino patogenov. V Sloveniji so bile raziskave na avtohtonih in invazivnih vrstah komarjev, kot prenašalcev porajajočih se mikroorganizmov, v preteklosti večinoma prezrte. Redke raziskave, ki so bile opravljene do sedaj, so bile usmerjene le v preučevanje razširjenosti in sezonske aktivnosti tujerodnih vrst komarjev, medtem ko avtohtonih vrst niso zajemale. Zato še vedno nimamo popolnega seznama vrst komarjev, ki se pojavljajo pri nas. Podobno je tudi pri peščenih muhah, ki so pomembni prenašalci lišmanije in flebovirusov na širšem območju Sredozemlja. V okviru projekta bomo vzpostavili standardizirane postopke monitoringa komarjev in peščenih muh. Prenašalce bomo vzorčili na več lokacijah, vsa tri leta trajanja projekta ter jih določili do vrste natančno. Z vrhunskimi molekularnimi metodami bomo ugotavljali pogostost medicinsko pomembnih patogenov v vzorcih prenašalcev. Podatki o prisotnosti in odsotnosti ter razširjenosti prenašalcev in patogenih mikroorganizmov, ki jih prenašajo bodo skupaj z okolijskimi podatki osnova za izdelavo ocene tveganja za vnos porajajočih se mikroorganizmov in vpliv na javno zdravje v Sloveniji. Predlagana raziskava bo pomembno prispevala tako pri pregledu obstoječega stanja, kot tudi pri nadzoru nad širjenjem morebitnih porajajočih se mikroorganizmov v slovenski prostor ter prispevala pomembne podatke o razširjenosti in sledenju gostote populacij preučevanih prenašalcev. Rezultati predlagane raziskave bodo dali oceno o razširjenosti avtohtonih in tujerodnih vrst komarjev in peščenih muh v Sloveniji ter prve podatke o prevalenci patogenih mikroorganizmov, ki bodo osnova za nadaljnjo kontinuirano spremljanje prenašalcev in porajajočih se mikroorganizmov v Sloveniji. Vzpostavili bomo sistem zgodnjega opozarjanja ob pojavu novih porajajočih se patogenov v Sloveniji. Zbrani podatki ne bodo koristni le za slovenske strokovnjake za javno zdravje, ampak tudi za ostale evropske države, saj je v vsaki državi potreben stalen nadzor in spremljanje okolijskih ali ekoloških sprememb, ki bi lahko privedle do pojava in obstanka prenašalcev ali patogenov tudi v bolj severnih zemljepisnih širinah. Vzpostavitev triletnega monitoringa prenašalcev in porajajočih bolezni, ki jih le ti prenašajo bo zagotovila rezultate o učinkovitosti takšnega monitoringa in predstavila trenutno stanje v Sloveniji, na podlagi katerih bomo lahko pripravili predlog za nadaljnje kontinuirano spremljanje. Hkrati bomo s projektom lahko izdelali oceno tveganja za vnos in izbruh porajajočih se patogenov ter tveganja, ki ga tak vnos predstavlja za zdravje ljudi.
ANG
Mosquito- and sandfly-borne viral diseases have certainly always existed in Europe when the temperatures permitted their transmission, but their identity, distribution and incidence only became known when suitable laboratory diagnostic methods were developed. In recent years, arboviral diseases have shown an increased ability to spread beyond the areas, previously considered to be their established geographic ranges. The reason for the emergence of microorganisms can be found in a complex network of factors, resulting from constantly changing environment, climate and increased mobility of both humans and animals. Climate change were also present in the past, but the rate of climate change in the past century is extraordinary. Due to the relief and climatic diversity of Slovenia, different climatic changes can be expected in specific areas, which will naturally affect the abundance of vectors and the prevalence of vector-borne pathogens. Therefore, a unified approach for the establishment of sensitive monitoring systems, which will provide knowledge of the current vector situation, as well as detect changes in the vector distribution and presence, that are likely going to happen. In view of morbidity and mortality, mosquitoes and sand flies present the most dangerous group of vectors for humans, since nearly half of the world’s population is threatened by the possibility of infection with pathogens they transmit. Among the emerging threats, arboviruses (Dengue virus, Zika virus, Yellow fever virus, West Nile virus, Chikungunya virus …) and some parasites (leishmania, malaria …) form a unique group of pathogens. In Slovenia in the past, research on mosquitoes and sand flies as vectors of emerging pathogens, has largely been ignored. The studies have so far only focused on the distribution and seasonal activity of invasive mosquitoes, while native species were not studied. Thus, a complete list of mosquito species that circulate in our country is still missing. Similar has happened in the past to sand flies, which are important vectors for phleboviruses and Leishmanias. The aim of the project is to establish standardized procedures for monitoring mosquitoes and sandflies. We will sample both vector species in several locations, throughout the project, and determine the exact species of the diseases vectors. We will determine the prevalence of medically important pathogens in vectors with state-of-the-art molecular methods. Data on the presence/absence and distribution of the vectors and vector-borne pathogens together with environmental data, will be the basis for the risk assessment of emerging pathogen introduction of and the impact it will have on public health in Slovenia. The proposed research will significantly contribute both to the recognition of the current state, as well as to the control of the spread of emerging pathogens in Slovenia. It will provide important data on the prevalence and the density of vector populations. The results of the proposed research will give an estimate of the prevalence of autochthonous and invasive species of mosquitoes and sandflies in Slovenia and the first data on the prevalence of emerging pathogens. The data will be the basis for continuous monitoring of vectors and emerging microorganisms in Slovenia. We will establish an early warning system for emerging pathogens in Slovenia. The collected data will not only be useful for Slovenian public health professionals, but also for other European countries, since in each country continuous monitoring of vectors and monitoring of environmental and climate changes is needed, since changes could lead to the occurrence and establishment of vectors and vector- borne pathogens in the more northern latitude. The establishment of a three-year monitoring of vectors and vector-borne pathogens will provide data on the effectiveness of such monitoring and present the current situation in Slovenia, based on which we can prepare a proposal for further continuous monitoring. At the same time, the project will produce data needed to perform the risk assessment of the introduction and outbreaks of emerging pathogens and the risk that such an introduction will present for public health.