On the occasion of World Zoonoses Day, GHTM highlights the contribution of its researchers to advancing the understanding, prevention and control of diseases transmitted between animals and humans. Today, we spotlight the work of Carla Maia and her research team, whose research on sand fly-borne pathogens—particularly Leishmania parasites and phleboviruses—is contributing to global One Health efforts through innovative research and the development of practical tools for disease surveillance and prevention.
At GHTM | IHMT NOVA, Carla Maia, researcher from the Vector-Borne Diseases (VBD-GHTM) Research Group, is leading several European initiatives that are advancing knowledge on sand fly-borne pathogens and translating scientific evidence into practical tools for disease surveillance and prevention.
Expanding knowledge on vector-borne zoonoses
As coordinator of the Horizon Europe CLIMOS project, Carla Maia has led an international effort to investigate the epidemiology of sand fly-borne diseases across Europe and the Mediterranean.
Through harmonised entomological surveillance conducted in 11 endemic or potentially endemic countries, the project collected more than 112,000 sand flies over two transmission seasons, creating one of the largest standardised datasets on sand fly distribution, seasonal dynamics and host-feeding behaviour.
Molecular analyses identified more than 250 Leishmania-positive sand fly pools in seven countries and over 70 pools positive for 17 different phlebovirus species, demonstrating the remarkable diversity and co-circulation of pathogens transmitted by these vectors. In Portugal, the team detected four phleboviruses circulating in the south of the country: Toscana virus, Alcube virus, Arrábida virus and a Massilia virus-related strain.
A multinational serological survey also revealed important geographical differences in canine exposure to Leishmania, sand fly-borne phleboviruses and sand fly salivary proteins, reinforcing the value of dogs as sentinels for vector-borne disease surveillance.
From research to public health action
The knowledge generated by CLIMOS has supported the development of the CLIMOS Early Warning System, which provides forecasts of sand fly activity, and the CLIMOS Toolkit, a One Health platform bringing together scientific evidence, policy recommendations and communication resources to support preparedness and decision-making across Europe and the Mediterranean.
These tools illustrate how research can be translated into practical resources that support public health authorities, veterinarians and other stakeholders in responding to the growing impact of climate-sensitive vector-borne diseases.
Building the next generation of One Health solutions
Building on the success of CLIMOS, the researcher is now contributing to new Horizon Europe projects that further strengthen One Health preparedness.
Within PLANET4HEALTH, the team is developing, together with the veterinary community, an Early Warning System for canine leishmaniasis that integrates epidemiological, entomological, environmental and climate data to improve disease risk prediction across the Iberian Peninsula.
In parallel, the ISMED-CLIM project is coordinating a Living Lab to co-develop educational materials that support the prevention of canine leishmaniasis among dog owners. The initiative draws on participatory workshops with veterinarians and other stakeholders to ensure that the resulting communication tools meet users’ needs and promote effective disease prevention.
The group’s research also contributes to a broader understanding of zoonotic disease transmission. A nationwide serological survey of domestic cats in Portugal estimated an overall Leishmania seroprevalence of 8.9%, indicating widespread feline exposure consistent with known canine and human hotspots. The findings support the inclusion of cats in multi-host surveillance strategies within a One Health framework.
One Health for a changing world
In the scope of World Zoonoses Day, GHTM | IHMT NOVA celebrates the contribution of its researchers to advancing scientific knowledge and developing innovative tools that strengthen preparedness against vector-borne zoonotic diseases. By connecting human, animal and environmental health, the work led by Carla Maia and the VBD-GHTM Research Group demonstrates how collaborative research can support more effective surveillance, prevention and public health action in an increasingly changing world.
Learn more:
- CLIMOS: https://climos-project.eu/
- CLIMOS Early Warning System: https://ews.climos-project.eu/
- CLIMOS Toolkit: https://climos-project.eu/climos-toolkit/
- PLANET4HEALTH: https://planet4health.eu/
- ISMED-CLIM: https://ismed-clim.eu/
