Research project P4S/251/JAPORISK (Research action P4S)
JAPORISK is a research project which objective is to investigate the potential public health risk associated with the establishment and spread of the invasive mosquito Aedes japonicus in Belgium. Originating from East Asia, the species has spread widely in temperate regions, including through the international trade in used tyres. In Belgium, it was first detected in 2002 and several populations have since been identified. However, notifications made through the citizen science platform MosquitoSurveillance.be indicate that the species may be more widely distributed than currently documented through active surveillance.
The project aims to improve understanding of the occurrence, spread and origin of Belgian Ae. japonicus populations and to assess their potential role as vectors of viruses of public health importance, particularly West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV). It will also investigate the effect of temperature on vector competence, helping to assess how climate change may influence the potential for arbovirus transmission in Belgium.
Between 2026 and 2029, active surveillance will be conducted in areas where the species has been reported, including sampling of larval breeding sites and the deployment of oviposition traps. Collected mosquitoes will be used in the laboratory to assess vector competence under different temperature conditions. In parallel, genetic and genomic analyses will be performed on Belgian specimens and established populations from neighbouring countries. These analyses will provide information on genetic diversity and population structure and help identify dispersal pathways and possible sources of introduction into Belgium.
The project will generate essential new evidence on the distribution of Ae. japonicus in Belgium, its potential capacity to transmit some arboviruses, and the mechanisms underlying its introduction and spread. The findings will support public health risk assessment and the development of targeted surveillance, prevention and vector control strategies. Results will be disseminated to the scientific community, competent authorities and the general public through scientific publications, conference presentations and a summary report for public health authorities, with data suitable for integration into arbovirus risk assessment tools.
