title: Rift Valley fever virus: Unanswered questions.
abstract: This mosquito-borne pathogen of humans and animals respects no international or geographic boundaries. It is currently found in parts of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula where periodic outbreaks of severe and fatal disease occur, and threatens to spread into other geographic regions. In recent years, modern molecular techniques have led to many breakthroughs deepening our understanding of the mechanisms of RVFV virulence, phylogenetics, and the creation of several next-generation vaccine candidates. Despite tremendous progress in these areas, other challenges remain in RVF disease pathogenesis, the virus life-cycle, and outbreak response preparedness that deserve our attention. Here we discuss and highlight ten key knowledge gaps and challenges in RVFV research. Answers to these key questions may lead to the development of new effective therapeutics and enhanced control strategies for this serious human and veterinary health threat.
authors.affiliation: Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA; One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. Electronic address: bhbird@ucdavis.edu.
authors.forename: Brian H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.affiliation: Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA; Pediatric Infectious Disease, Emory University Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Anita K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: McElroy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D015897:Comorbidity; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D012295:Rift Valley Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D012296:Rift Valley fever virus / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015047:Zoonoses
keywords: Arbovirus; Epizootic; Mosquito; Reservoir; Rift Valley fever virus; Zoonoses