Inventory of available data and data sources and proposal for data collection on vector‐borne zoonoses in animals

Abstract

An inventory of data collected from animals was carried out on the following agents of vector borne zoonoses: Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (sl), West Nile virus (WNV), Francisella tularensis, Leptospira, Hantavirus, Leishmania infantum, tick borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV). The role of animals in transmission cycles of these agents is described through a narrative literature review. Information on data collection carried out by competent authorities of European Union Member States, Norway, and Switzerland was gathered using questionnaires. Ecological and epidemiological research was analysed through a systematic literature review. Fourteen out of 29 countries replied to the questionnaires. Results show that, up to 2009, data collection by competent authorities was relatively frequent on Leptospira, F. tularensis, and WNV. Conversely, data collection on B. burgdorferi sl in animals was less frequent, in spite of a widespread and expanding distribution of this agent. Based on information gathered in the data inventory, proposals were developed for data collection within the framework of Directive 2003/99/EC. The following animal species were proposed in data collection on one or more agent: dogs (which were proposed in data collection on B. burgdorferi sl, L. infantum, Leptospira, TBEV, F. tularensis, and Hantavirus), domestic ruminants (B. burgdorferi sl, TBEV, F. tularensis, CCHFV, and Leptospira), horses (B. burgdorferi sl, F. tularensis, WNV, and Leptospira), pigs (F. tularensis and Leptospira), wild boars and foxes (F. tularensis and Leptospira), wild and synanthropic rodents (Leptospira, Hantavirus, TBEV, and F. tularensis), hares (F. tularensis and CCHFV), wild and synanthropic birds (WNV), and farmed ostriches (CCHFV).