Climate change and its association with the expansion of vectors and vector-borne diseases in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region: A systematic synthesis of the literature

Dhimal, Meghnath; Kramer, Isabelle; Phuyal, Parbati; Budhathoki, Shyam Sundar; Hartke, Juliane; Ahrens, Bodo; Kuch, Ulrich; Groneberg, David A.; Nepal, Santosh; Liu, Qiyong; Huang, Cunrui; Cissé, Guéladio; Ebi, Kristie L.; Klingelhöfer, Doris; Müller, Ruth

doi:10.1016/j.accre.2021.05.003

Cited by 20 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 102 publications

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“…More recently, the lancet commission on climate change and health 2019 revealed that suitability of disease transmission (malaria and dengue) by mosquito vectors has increased over the past few years (Watts et al, 2019). This deduction by the leading body of public health researchers specialized in climate change and health effects is underpinned by the geographic expansion of disease vectors and subsequently confirmed cases of vector-borne diseases (VBDs) in the high mountain regions of the world including HKH (Bouma et al, 1996;Bi et al, 2013;Dhimal et al, 2015aDhimal et al, ,b, 2018Dhimal et al, , 2021Dhiman et al, 2019). Studies suggest that the increasing temperature and frequency of extreme rainfall events in high mountains of South Asia is now more conducive for the survival and reproduction of disease-carrying vectors (Dhiman et al, 2011;Dhimal et al, 2015bDhimal et al, , 2021Sarkar et al, 2019).…”

Section: Vector-borne Diseases In the Hkh Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Climate change is implicated in the geographical expansion of autochthonous cases of VBDs to non-endemics areas of high mountains in Nepal (Dhimal et al, 2015a). The expanded spatial distribution and increased incidence of chikungunya and dengue over the last decades in the HKH region have been associated with climate change (Phuyal et al, 2020;Dhimal et al, 2021). Increasing number of confirmed cases of Japanese encephalitis in Himalayan highlands, which were previously confined to the lower southern plains, has been linked with climate change (Baylis et al, 2016).…”

Section: Vector-borne Diseases In the Hkh Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of Climate Change on Health and Well-Being of People in Hindu Kush Himalayan Region: A Narrative Review

Dhimal

Bhandari

Dhimal³

et al. 2021

Front. Physiol.

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Climate change and variability affect virtually everyone and every region of the world but the effects are nowhere more prominent than in mountain regions and people living therein. The Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region is a vast expanse encompassing 18% of the world’s mountainous area. Sprawling over 4.3 million km2, the HKH region occupies areas of eight countries namely Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar, and Pakistan. The HKH region is warming at a rate higher than the global average and precipitation has also increased significantly over the last 6 decades along with increased frequency and intensity of some extreme events. Changes in temperature and precipitation have affected and will like to affect the climate-dependent sectors such as hydrology, agriculture, biodiversity, and human health. This paper aims to document how climate change has impacted and will impact, health and well-being of the people in the HKH region and offers adaptation and mitigation measures to reduce the impacts of climate change on health and well-being of the people. In the HKH region, climate change boosts infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), malnutrition, and injuries. Hence, climate change adaptation and mitigation measures are needed urgently to safeguard vulnerable populations residing in the HKH region.

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Section: Vector-borne Diseases In the Hkh Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Vector-borne Diseases In the Hkh Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Climate Change on Health and Well-Being of People in Hindu Kush Himalayan Region: A Narrative Review

Dhimal

Bhandari

Dhimal³

et al. 2021

Front. Physiol.

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“…This concerns not only the tropical regions, classically associated with such diseases, but increasingly also temperate regions. In the USA, for example, the number of cases linked to diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks and fleas tripled between 2004 and 2016 [ 3 ], and in Nepal, for instance, VBDs show significant expansion in geographical range [ 4 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Alarmingly, during the 2019 outbreak, the capital city Kathmandu, with 1.4 million inhabitants, at an elevation of 1400 m asl, was especially hard hit [ 19 ], while only sporadic cases were reported earlier [ 20 ]. Cases have also been reported from even higher elevations (2100 m asl), and the most likely driving factor for the distribution of vector species in the regions of higher elevation is increasing temperature associated with anthropogenic climate change [ 4 , 17 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A barcoding pipeline for mosquito surveillance in Nepal, a biodiverse dengue-endemic country

et al. 2022

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Background Vector-borne diseases are on the rise on a global scale, which is anticipated to further accelerate because of anthropogenic climate change. Resource-limited regions are especially hard hit by this increment with the currently implemented surveillance programs being inadequate for the observed expansion of potential vector species. Cost-effective methods that can be easily implemented in resource-limited settings, e.g. under field conditions, are thus urgently needed to function as an early warning system for vector-borne disease epidemics. Our aim was to enhance entomological capacity in Nepal, a country with endemicity of numerous vector-borne diseases and with frequent outbreaks of dengue fever. Methods We used a field barcoding pipeline based on DNA nanopore sequencing (Oxford Nanopore Technologies) and verified its use for different mosquito life stages and storage methods. We furthermore hosted an online workshop to facilitate knowledge transfer to Nepalese scientific experts from different disciplines. Results The use of the barcoding pipeline could be verified for adult mosquitos and eggs, as well as for homogenized samples, dried specimens, samples that were stored in ethanol and frozen tissue. The transfer of knowledge was successful, as reflected by feedback from the participants and their wish to implement the method. Conclusions Cost effective strategies are urgently needed to assess the likelihood of disease outbreaks. We were able to show that field sequencing provides a solution that is cost-effective, undemanding in its implementation and easy to learn. The knowledge transfer to Nepalese scientific experts from different disciplines provides an opportunity for sustainable implementation of low-cost portable sequencing solutions in Nepal. Graphical Abstract

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“…aegypti currently spreading along climatic transects with ongoing disease expansion (e.g. Dengue) in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) country Nepal could provide useful insights (32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41). After an introduction into a new environment, populations are unlikely at their fitness optimum at first and, therefore, adapt to new conditions through environmental selection (27).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genomic profiling of climate adaptation in Aedes aegypti along an altitudinal gradient in Nepal indicates non-gradual expansion of the disease vector

Kramer

Pfenninger

Feldmeyer

et al. 2022

Preprint

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BackgroundDriven by globalization, urbanization and climate change, the distribution range of invasive vector species has expanded to previously colder ecoregions. To reduce health-threatening impacts on humans, insect vectors are extensively studied. Population genomics can reveal the genomic basis of adaptation and help to identify emerging trends of vector expansion.ResultsBy applying whole genome analyses and genotype-environment associations to populations of the main dengue vector Ae. aegypti, sampled along an altitudinal temperature gradient in Nepal (200- 1300m), we identify adaptive traits and describe the species’ genomic footprint of climate adaptation to colder ecoregions. We found two clusters of differentiation with significantly different allele frequencies in genes associated to climate adaptation between the highland population (1300m) and all other lowland populations (≤ 800 m). We revealed non-synonymous mutations in 13 of the candidate genes associated to either altitude, precipitation or cold tolerance and identified an isolation-by-environment differentiation pattern.ConclusionOther than the expected gradual differentiation along the altitudinal gradient, our results reveal a distinct genomic differentiation of the highland population. This finding either indicates a differential invasion history to Nepal or local high-altitude adaptation explaining the population’s phenotypic cold tolerance. In any case, this highland population can be assumed to carry pre-adapted alleles relevant for the species’ invasion into colder ecoregions worldwide that way expanding their climate niche.

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Climate change and its association with the expansion of vectors and vector-borne diseases in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region: A systematic synthesis of the literature

Cited by 20 publications

References 102 publications

Impact of Climate Change on Health and Well-Being of People in Hindu Kush Himalayan Region: A Narrative Review

Impact of Climate Change on Health and Well-Being of People in Hindu Kush Himalayan Region: A Narrative Review

A barcoding pipeline for mosquito surveillance in Nepal, a biodiverse dengue-endemic country

Genomic profiling of climate adaptation in Aedes aegypti along an altitudinal gradient in Nepal indicates non-gradual expansion of the disease vector

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