Ross River virus (RRV) is Australia’s most common mosquito-borne disease, affecting both humans and animals, with an estimated economic burden of $4-5 million each year.
The virus is now spreading into new regions thanks to climate change, urbanisation and an expanding variety of mosquito vectors and reservoir hosts.
Yet current methods for detecting RRV are expensive, time-consuming and rely on access to highly specialised labs and trained personnel.
To address this challenge, Professor Travis Beddoe and his team have developed a breakthrough diagnostic tool: a reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay that rapidly detects Ross River virus in mosquito populations.
“Unlike conventional diagnostic methods, this assay operates at a single constant temperature, enabling its use in field settings. This means it can deliver accurate results in under 30 minutes without the need for expensive equipment or technical expertise.”
Dr Knox says this will significantly improve real-time monitoring and outbreak response.
“This work enhances Australia’s capacity to manage RRV transmission and sets a foundation for applying similar techniques to other vector-borne diseases globally.”
Next steps will involve the validation and deployment of the RT-LAMP assay under real-world conditions.
The team also plan to integrate the new tool into existing surveillance programs and develop a user-friendly diagnostic kit for frontline public health and environmental officers.
