Work Package 1: Project coordination
Lead Beneficiary: IZS-Teramo
Specific objectives:
- To coordinate the entire project for the achievement of the expected outcomes
- To liaise with the HaDEA, the DG SANTE and EFSA during and for the project implementation
- To set and apply the methodology, work plan and KPI for the management, monitoring and assessment of the project implementation and quality of the achievements
- To communicate and disseminate the project results
- To promote capacity building
Description
The first work package (WP1) is focused on the project coordination, ad it includes all management activities needed for coordinating the entire project, but also those activities to liaise with the HaDEA, the DG SANTE and EFSA during and for the project implementation, to set and apply the methodology, work plan and KPI for the management, monitoring and assessment of the project implementation and quality of the achievements, to communicate and disseminate the project results and to promote capacity building.
Activities:
Work Package 2: Surveillance activities on Domestic Ruminants and related Vector Borne diseases
Lead Beneficiary: IZS-Teramo
Specific objectives:
- To early detect the presence and circulation of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) in infected neighbouring countries, assess the risk of introduction of this zoonotic disease into Italy and plan possible preventive measures.
- To early detect the presence in Italy of Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) in ticks over domestic ruminants.
- To estimate the zoonotic risk linked to Coxiella burnetii (Cb) strains infecting ruminants, based on genome characterization of isolates from ruminants and subsequent comparison with those from human cases.
Description
This WP will consider the role of domestic ruminants in the possible introduction of emergent trans-boundaries diseases (RVF, CCHF), both in Italy and in neighbouring countries, and as a source of major risks for humans for Q fever, which is present in various regions of the country.
Activities:
Work Package 3: Surveillance activities on migratory birds and their environment
Lead Beneficiary: IZS-Teramo
Specific objectives:
- The introduction of CCHF virus into Italy through migratory birds carrying infected ticks,
- Novel strains of WNF viruses in migratory birds,
- New viral incursions and/or new genotypes/subtypes of HPAI in the sites under observation/surveillance and at the wild birds/poultry interface.
Description
This WP explores the role of migratory birds in the possible introduction and spread of some vector-borne diseases (CCHF and WNF) as well as the establishment of new efficient surveillance approaches for the early detection of HPAI in wild bird populations. Activities will be carried out in collaboration with the Italian Institute for Environmental, Protection and Research (www.isprambiente.gov.it), thus representing an example of effective coordination between health and environmental institutions.
Activities:
Work Package 4: Surveillance activities in pig farms and wild boars
Lead Beneficiary: ISS
Specific objectives:
- To detect the presence and circulation of Hepatitis E virus (HEV) in pig farms
- To map the main and new emerging genotypes of HEV in pig and wild boar populations
- To detect the emergence of new relevant genotypes/subtypes of SIV in the pig population
Description
This WP investigates the presence, persistence and diffusion of HEV in the various possible domestic and wild reservoirs, considering new approaches based on environmental sampling. The possible risk for human health linked to the presence and emergence of SIV strains in pig farms is also assessed.
Activities:
Work Package 5: Surveillance activities on wild and synanthropic mammals
Lead Beneficiary: IZS-Venezie
Specific objectives:
- To early detect HPAI H5N1 spillover events in wild carnivores.
- To detect the introduction of E. multilocularis and E. granulosus s.l. into new geographic areas and populations of wild canids and investigating the trends over time.
- To early detect possible changes in the geographic distribution and spread to new areas of Lyme Disease (LD) and Tick Borne Encephalitis (TBE).
- To collect information and genomic data on the circulation of untargeted viruses (possibly responsible of so-called disease Y) in selected animal species.
Description
This WP targets the various ecosystems in which various mammal species may represent a source of new threats for humans (disease Y, mutated HPAI viruses with mammal adaptation) or potential reservoirs for serious zoonoses (echinococcosis). Vectors (ticks) are also investigated as potential reservoir for some zoonoses (LD and TBE) in the same sylvatic ecosystem.
Activities:
Work Package 6: Data Management
Lead Beneficiary: IZS-Teramo
Specific objectives:
- To collect, collate and analyse the data produced by the surveillance activities carried out in the other Work Packages
Description
WP6 on data management is focussed on those activities needed to assure to collect, collate and analyse the data produced by the surveillance activities carried out in the other WPss. A platform for data collection will be established. Data will be standardised following EFSA standards concerning the datasets and the rules for data recording. For the standardisation of data collected by the various partners, the use of mapping tools, like SIGMA-EST, will be considered.
Activities:
