Conference Agenda

Mosquitoes are the most significant vectors of human and animal diseases. Worldwide, there are over 3,500 extant species, each with varying ecological behaviours. Consequently, mosquito populations are dynamic, shifting over time and space. As a result, the risk of disease transmission is also dynamic, as it relies on the prevalence and abundance of known competent vectors. Therefore, understanding how mosquito populations shift is essential to accurately assess mosquito-borne disease transmission risk.

To investigate spatiotemporal effects on mosquito populations, 4,469 mosquitoes (representing 15 species) were collected from 10 locations within the Perth metropolitan area between 2022 and 2024. Climate variables (rainfall and temperature) and landscape coverage (within 2.5 km) were obtained for each location and trapping event. Generalised linear models determined the influence of spatiotemporal variables on mosquito population diversity indices (Hill’s numbers) and species abundance.

Mosquito population diversity was not significantly influenced by landscape coverage; instead, diversity was driven by climate variables. Mosquito species exhibited diverse temperature and rainfall preferences, indicating that competent vectors for endemic mosquito-borne diseases are prevalent year-round in Perth. Our findings underscore the importance of integrating climate-driven and land-use data into mosquito surveillance and control programs to improve predictions of mosquito-borne disease transmission risk.

Cuora flavomarginata, an endemic terrestrial turtle in Asia and a Class I protected species in Taiwan, remains understudied in terms of parasite diversity and zoonotic risk. This study investigated endo- and ectoparasites, with a One Health focus on tick-borne pathogens. Samples were collected from 12 turtles in Shizi Township, yielding 154 ticks and 6 fecal samples. All ticks were identified as Amblyomma geoemydae using morphological and molecular approaches. A total of 51 tick DNA samples were screened by PCR for Francisella spp., Rickettsia spp., Coxiella burnetii, and Ehrlichia spp., while fecal samples were examined for endoparasites. Francisella spp. showed a notably high detection rate (86.3%), followed by Rickettsia spp. (27.5%) and C. burnetii (2.0%); Ehrlichia spp. were not detected, and no endoparasites were found. The high prevalence of Francisella spp. suggests that reptile-associated ticks may contribute to its environmental maintenance. Given the unclear transmission pathways of tularemia in Taiwan, these findings highlight a previously underrecognized component in its ecology. This study underscores the importance of integrating wildlife, vector, and pathogen surveillance to better understand zoonotic disease risks within a One Health framework.

Bats are key ecological species and recognised reservoirs of diverse pathogens, yet their role in tick–host–pathogen systems in Australasia remains poorly understood. This study systematically synthesises current knowledge on bat-associated ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) and identifies critical gaps. Following PRISMA guidelines, literature was retrieved from major databases, including studies reporting ticks on bats or within their environments, and those investigating TBPs. Risk of bias was assessed using an AXIS-based framework. Of 512 studies screened, 35 met the inclusion criteria. Fourteen typical and nine incidental tick species were reported from bats, predominantly in Australia and New Guinea. Only one bacterial pathogen, Rickettsia japonica, was detected in the typical bat-associated tick Argas dewae. The non-typical tick Ixodes holocyclus was associated with paralysis in bats, while A. dewae may infest other hosts, including humans. Most studies relied on opportunistic sampling and morphological identification, with minimal use of molecular tools and limited investigation of pathogen diversity or bat health impacts. These findings highlight major gaps in surveillance, molecular characterisation, and pathogen detection, underscoring the need for integrated One Health approaches to better understand bat–tick–pathogen dynamics in Australasia.