ORBINAT - Understanding current and forecasted sylvatic ecological niches of orbiviruses under climate change: bluetongue and epizootic haemorrhagic disease viruses in wild ruminants

The ORBINAT project aims to advance knowledge on the eco-epidemiology of bluetongue virus (BTV) and epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) by studying their wild ecological niches and transmission dynamics in wild ruminants. These arboviruses, transmitted by vectors of the genus Culicoides, have expanded their presence in Europe, particularly in Spain, where new serotypes such as BTV-3, BTV-8 and EHDV-8 have emerged, threatening livestock health, wildlife and the sustainability of extensive systems. The emergence of these viruses is influenced by climate change, vector expansion, increased density of wild ruminants and viral evolution; however, their mechanisms of persistence in wild hosts remain incompletely understood. ORBINAT integrates field surveillance, genomic analysis and ecological modelling to assess current and future risks, generating key data for disease management, early warning systems and policy development.