Mosquitoes represent important parts in numerous ecosystems, but the family Culicidae also contains several potential vectors of pathogens. As a consequence of globalisation, climate and environmental change, the local mosquito fauna and transmission risk of mosquito-borne pathogens, such as the West Nile virus, have changed significantly in recent years. Efficient risk assessment depends on high-quality data of the presence of mosquito vector species and pathogens, which can be transmitted by them, such as viruses and filarial nematodes.
Main research topics
The Laboratory for Mosquito Monitoring surveys the occurrence and spatiotemporal distribution of native and invasive mosquito species and their role in the transmission of pathogens in Germany. The tasks include the planning and coordination of national monitoring activities, morphological and molecular identification of mosquitoes, pathogen screening and characterisation as well as surveillance of invasive mosquito species. The data are used to develop mosquito-borne disease risk assessments, surveillance plans and response measures to putative mosquito vectors. The activities are carried out in close cooperation with other laboratories in the IMED (Laboratory for Medical Entomology, Laboratory for Vector Capacity, Laboratory for Molecular Vector-Pathogen Interaction), other institutes of the FLI, the National Expert Committee ‚Mosquitoes as Vectors of Disease Agents‘ and other research facilities. In particular, the Laboratory for Mosquito Monitoring provides the technical support and provision of scientific expertise in questions of mosquito ecology and epidemiology for public health decision- and policy-makers.