The following content is from the Journal of Medical Entomology and was not written by HVHD.
Arboviruses (arthropod-borne viruses) are a class of viral pathogens that are transmitted by arthropod vectors in nature. They are responsible for many vector-borne diseases that continue to plague humans and animals and impact the health of ecosystems globally. The biological transmission of arboviruses generally occurs in nature between susceptible vertebrate hosts and hematophagous insects such as biting midges, mosquitoes, and ticks. The morbidity and mortality associated with vector-borne diseases have not lessened in recent years but continue to rise as a result of changes in climate, land use patterns, rapidity and frequency of worldwide human travel, increases in animal migrations and trade, and the continuing geographic range expansion of insect vector species.
The occurrence of exotic and resurgence of endemic vector-borne pathogens have been predicted to further rise in the coming decades. In an effort to address problems surrounding vector-borne pathogens, we have dedicated a series of Forum Articles for a special issue of the Journal of Medical Entomology entitled “Emerging and Lesser-Known Arboviruses Impacting Animal and Human Health”. It is our hope that that this series of articles written by subject matter experts will further contribute to our understanding of these lesser-known arboviruses for the benefit of vector control personnel, clinicians, and public health stewards within a One Health approach. This issue will encompass some of the lesser-known arboviruses transmitted by biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae), and hard ticks (Ixodida: Ixodidae).
We hope that this special issue sheds additional light on some of the lesser-known arboviruses that may be increasing in incidence, distribution, and human or animal health impact. Our sincere objective in putting this special issue together was to provide additional information for vector control specialists, public health stewards, and clinicians on these pathogens and their vectors, with the ultimate aim of lessening their overall impact and reversing alarming trends associated with arboviral infections.
All the papers in the collection are freely available to read and download.
The collection can be found here and is completely open access for anyone to download:
