The impact of Climate Change on Arthropod vectors and selected parasites in Alpine Pastures

Projektleitung an der Vetmeduni

Führer, Hans-Peter

Geldgeber

Klima- und Energiefonds

Laufzeit

01.10.2024 - 31.12.2027

Abstract

Climate change will increase the impact of vector-borne diseases on human and animal health around the world by direct effects on the biology of the vectors and transmission cycles, or indirectly via socio-economic mechanisms affecting the sensitivity of humans and animals to these diseases and our capacity to prevent and control them. Additionally internal parasites, especially helminths (like liver flukes – Fasciola hepatica), strongly affect the health and fitness of domestic and wild animals, and often have life stages that live away from the main host and are exposed to external environmental conditions. Climate - and climate change - is therefore a key driver of infection patterns. To prepare for these risks, we need to assess the current state and predict the potential impacts of climate change on vectors and parasites. In the proposed project VecParClim we investigate the mountainous region of Tyrol (Austria) with respect to historic and future climatic changes and their effect on arthropod vectors, vector-borne pathogens, and selected parasites in the Alpine pasture zone. The climate and its change in Tyrol is assessed using both existing and the newest climate datasets, including ensemble simulations at the convection-permitting scale. Datasets are complemented by high resolution physically-based snow-hydrological simulations and jointly developed of environmental indicators linking local habitats to the hydro-climatological conditions.The final goal of the project is to assess the current distribution, abundance, and specific habitat conditions for arthropod vectors, vector-borne pathogens, intermediate snail hosts, and selected parasites as well as their changes with respect to the changing climate, in particular with respect to altitudinal and seasonal shifts. The desired results of the project include the identification of new risks of infections and contact zones, as well as scientific knowledge as a basis for the development of measures to protect human and animal health and to better adapt to the changing climatic conditions.