Arbovirus & Emerging Viral Diseases 2017

Head of Lab: Marc GRANDADAM, Ph D
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Since 2012, the Arbovirus and Emerging Viral Diseases Laboratory developed combined field studies to improve knowledge of viral vector-borne diseases in the Lao PDR. Over the last three years, the team was organized around specific projects to help the young Lao scientists and technicians to acquire skills in virology with strong practical applications. In order to expand the capacities of the unit and reinforce the positioning of the laboratory in the public health arena, a new strategy has been developed. The team has now been restructured into three groups that, between them, encompass the different laboratories’ areas of responsibility.

Progress in arbovirus surveillance and staff changes afforded opportunities to reorganize the team. A major part of the group is now dedicated to the global surveillance of arboviruses, providing (i) assistance to Vientiane and provincial hospitals for the confirmation of arboviral infections, (ii) updated information and alerts to national and international health authorities, and (iii) training for medical staff in hospitals. A second group focuses its activities on arbovirus ecology. Interactions with entomologists and vertebrate experts were reinforced in order to diversify the fields of investigation on arbovirus cycles and maintenance in wild environments. A third group is in charge of conducting research on more fundamental aspects of virus–host interactions and to develop new detection or diagnosis tests.

Nevertheless, the capacity of the unit to mobilize sufficient staff to face a major public health crisis in the area of the emergence of unrecorded viral pathogens in the region or re-emergence of endemic viruses on a 24/7 basis has been maintained.

Executive summary

Arboviral infections have been identified as a main public health concern for the Lao PDR. Surveillance systems developed by IPL since 2012 have been recognized as a major tool for the Lao health authorities for arbovirus prevention and control. Data gathered for now five years are used to anticipate dengue seasons. Thus, observations of changes in dengue 4 transmission since 2014 helped providing a scenario for the dengue epidemic in 2017. Improving data analysis is a main objective of the Lao work package within Ecomore 2 project, a new regional three years project launched in September 2017. Partial sequencing of dengue virus genomes has been developed increasing the capacity of the AEVD laboratory to document the origin of dengue virus circulating in Lao PDR.

The AEVD laboratory develops fundamental research in parallel of its surveillance activity.

A study focusing on the kinetics of dengue viremia lead to the adaptation of diagnostic algorithms and provided information that may have an impact on dengue virus epidemiology. New technical capacities were also acquired through this project. A platform for experimental infections of mosquitoes has been set up opening perspectives to go further on that topic in country.

Arbovirus ecology is the second main work axis of the AEVD laboratory. Investigations of ticks and sandflies provided encouraging results, valuable biological material and new information for the mapping of species and viral pathogens. A constructive collaboration with a new generation sequencing plate form at the Institut Pasteur, Paris will now help establish a complete genetic characterization of the viral sequences detected in arthropods specimens.

Team

Junior Scientists:
1. Sompavanh SOMLOR, MD
2. Thonglakhone XAYBOUNSOU

Technicians:
1. Chintana LATHAPHASAVANG
2. Phaithong BOUNMANY
3. Souksakhone VIENGPHOUTHONG
4. Sitsana KEOSENHOM, Lab & Quality Agent
5. Phoutsana KHAMSUVAT
6. Thep aksone Chindavong

Project carried on in the lab:

+ Arbovirus surveillance
+ Kinetic study of cellular viremia of dengue virus in Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR (Research program PTR-491)
+ Arbovirus ecology
+ Education activities