Training on Mosquito-Borne Zoonotic Diseases for Researchers in Southeast Asia

Fostering of the Southeast Asian network of early career researchers and online training of mosquito-borne zoonotic diseases

This Small Grants’ goal is to initiate a network of One Health researchers throughout Southeast Asia adequately trained to work on mosquito-borne diseases by setting up a field and laboratory training. Malaria has been a global health problem for decades and remains a global health problem. In order to fight against this, a project done in collaboration with researchers from various countries of Southeast Asia has been initiated and led by Dr. Morakot Kaewthamasorn. It provided laboratory skills that would enable participants to establish their own collaborating work in their countries.

Through the capacity building provided by this grant, participants have improved their basic skills on how to handle mosquitoes and collect blood samples, strengthened their research readiness on conventional and advanced molecular methods on diagnosis of zoonotic diseases, and could initiate talks between peers on this matter. This course has been focused on zoonotic mosquito-borne disease; due to the global health problem it represents throughout the world. The objective of this study was to detect zoonotic Plasmodium knowlesi in monkeys and its vector. A total of 56 blood samples from long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) in Maenam Phachi Wildlife Sanctuary of Ratchaburi province, Thailand, have been screened for malaria parasites.

The project has been successful even though the blood sample collection has been difficult due to the time the project started. In October, mosquitoes go into diapause (period during which the development of an insect is suspended), which result in fewer mosquitoes. Nevertheless, participants still learned how to successfully collect mosquitoes in the field, and understand the entire process of identification of the malaria parasite. At the end of the project, the researchers have been able to start developing peer conversations for further work on the malaria.

SEAOHUN 2020 Small Grants

Project team leader: Dr. Morakot Kaewthamasorn (Chulalongkorn University), Thailand Team members: Dr. Yudhi Ratna Nugraheni (Universitas Gadjah Mada), Indonesia Dr. Aung Aung (Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Irrigation), Myanmar Duriyang Narapakdesakul (Chulalongkorn University), Thailand Dr. Fajar Budi Lestari (Universitas Gadjah Mada), Indonesia Dr. Phonepadith Xangsayarath (Ministry of Health of Lao PDR), Laos Dr. Anh Hoang Lan Nguyen (Chulalongkorn University), Vietnam Dr. Farindira Vesti Rahmasari (Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta), Indonesia

- Personal protective equipment, distancing, and group size standards in this photo were consistent with local public health guidance and COVID-19 status in the specific country and time it was taken. This may not reflect best practices for all locations where COVID-19 is still spreading. -