Journal of Mosquito Research, 2024, Vol.14, No.5, 247-255 http://emtoscipublisher.com/index.php/jmr 247 Research Insight Open Access Environmental and Ecological Factors Influencing Japanese Encephalitis Transmission Qiyan Lou, Xiaoying Xu Biotechnology Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, China Corresponding email: xiaoying.xu@cuixi.org Journal of Mosquito Research, 2024, Vol.14, No.5 doi: 10.5376/jmr.2024.14.0023 Received: 07 Sep., 2024 Accepted: 10 Oct., 2024 Published: 21 Oct., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Lou and Xu, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Luo Q.Y., and Xu X.Y., 2024, Environmental and ecological factors influencing japanese encephalitis transmission, Journal of Mosquito Research, 14(5): 247-255 (doi: 10.5376/jmr.2024.14.0023) Abstract Japanese Encephalitis (JE) is a significant vector-borne zoonotic disease primarily affecting Southeast Asia, with potential for expansion into new regions due to various environmental and ecological factors. This study examines the multifaceted influences on JE transmission, including vector ecology, climate variables, and anthropogenic changes. The primary vectors, predominantly Culex species, play a crucial role in the transmission dynamics, with environmental conditions such as temperature, rainfall, and humidity significantly impacting vector competence and virus dissemination. Additionally, the role of amplifying hosts like pigs and birds, along with the potential for new vector species to emerge in non-endemic regions, underscores the complexity of JE epidemiology. Increased surveillance, vector control, and public health interventions are essential to mitigate the risk of JE outbreaks in both endemic and susceptible regions. This study synthesizes current knowledge and identifies gaps for future research to better understand and control JE transmission. Keywords Japanese encephalitis; Vector ecology; Climate change; Zoonotic disease; Culex mosquitoes 1 Introduction Japanese Encephalitis (JE) is a viral disease primarily found in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific regions. It is caused by the Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV), which is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes, predominantly of the Culex species (Pearce et al., 2018; Srivastava et al., 2023). The disease is zoonotic, with pigs and birds serving as the main amplifying hosts, while humans are considered dead-end hosts (Ladreyt et al., 2019). JE is a significant public health concern due to its high morbidity and mortality rates, with an estimated 67,000 cases reported annually. Despite the availability of vaccines, JE remains the leading cause of viral encephalitis in many Asian countries. Understanding the environmental and ecological factors influencing JE transmission is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, the distribution and abundance of mosquito vectors are heavily influenced by climatic conditions such as temperature, rainfall, and humidity, which in turn affect the transmission dynamics of JEV. For instance, studies have shown that increases in temperature and humidity can enhance mosquito development and virus transmission rates (Singh et al., 2020). Secondly, changes in land use, urbanization, and agricultural practices can alter the habitats of mosquito vectors and amplifying hosts, thereby impacting JE epidemiology (Pearce et al., 2018). Additionally, the emergence of new JEV genotypes in novel ecological settings, such as the recent outbreaks in Australia, underscores the need for continuous surveillance and understanding of these factors to predict and mitigate future outbreaks (Hurk et al., 2022; Mackenzie et al., 2022). This study synthesizes current knowledge on the environmental and ecological factors that influence the transmission of Japanese Encephalitis (JE), focusing on identifying and evaluating key environmental variables that affect the distribution and abundance of JE vectors, assessing the role of ecological factors such as land use changes and host-vector interactions in transmission dynamics, examining the impact of climate change on the potential expansion of JE into new geographic areas, and providing recommendations for improving surveillance and control strategies based on these factors, with the aim of contributing to a better understanding of JE transmission and informing public health interventions to reduce the burden of this disease.
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