Mosquito-borne arboviruses in Uganda: history, transmission and burden

Mosquito-transmitted arboviruses constitute a large proportion of emerging infectious diseases that are both public health problem and threat to animal populations. Many such viruses were identified in East Africa, region where they remain important from new may emerge. We set out describe review the relevant mosquito-borne have been specifically Uganda. focused on discovery, burden, mode transmission, hosts clinical manifestation those previously involved disease outbreaks. A search for detected Uganda was conducted using terms ‘Arboviruses Uganda’ ‘Mosquitoes Viruses PubMed Google Scholar 2020. Twenty-four different hosts, humans mosquitoes documented. The majority these family Peribunyaviridae , followed by Flaviviridae Togaviridae Phenuiviridae only one each Rhabdoviridae Reoviridae . Sixteen (66.7%) associated with febrile illnesses. Ten (41.7%) them first described locally Six as outbreaks either within or outside Historically, there is high burden endemicity Given many diverse mosquito species known country, also likelihood undescribed viruses. Next generation diagnostic platforms great potential identify Indeed, four novel viruses, two which (Ntwetwe Nyangole viruses) (Kibale Mburo last decade next sequencing. unbiased approach detection this technology, its use will undoubtedly be critically characterization viromes turn inform other efforts.