Protocol to produce a systematic Arenavirus and Hantavirus host-pathogen database: Project ArHa.

Area of Science:

• Zoonotic disease ecology
• Viral evolution and epidemiology
• Public health surveillance

Background:

• Arenaviruses and Hantaviruses, rodent-borne viruses, are significant public health threats with global distribution.
• Zoonotic spillover events are increasing due to environmental changes and human activities.
• Understanding these viruses is challenging, particularly in under-researched areas like Africa.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose the creation of a unified database (ArHa) for small-mammal hosts of Arenaviruses and Hantaviruses.
• To address data gaps in understanding viral prevalence, host-pathogen dynamics, and spillover risk.
• To enhance risk assessment, surveillance, and intervention strategies for these zoonotic diseases.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on Arenaviruses and Hantaviruses.
• Identification of ecological and anthropogenic drivers of pathogen spillover.
• Proposal for an integrated ecological and genomic dataset (ArHa).

Main Results:

• Current data on Arenaviruses and Hantaviruses is sparse, especially in Africa.
• Complex interactions between ecology, hosts, and environment influence transmission.
• A comprehensive dataset is needed for improved predictive modeling and risk assessment.

Conclusions:

• Integrated ecological and genomic approaches are essential for understanding zoonotic diseases.
• The proposed ArHa database will facilitate a more holistic understanding of Arenavirus and Hantavirus epidemiology.
• Improved data and modeling are critical for mitigating future spillover events and protecting public health.