PWS Honduras Tick Pilot_Draft_04032025.docx

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

1. Introduction:

The Performance Work Statement (PWS) defines the requirements for conducting the Study entitled “Integrated Surveillance for Understudied Tick-borne Pathogens in Honduras: A One Health Approach”.

The study is funded by the Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response Branch (GEIS) of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Division (AFHSB) intramural funding. The country where the activities will be carried out is Honduras.

2. Background:

Ticks can transmit numerous pathogens that cause disease in humans. Ixodid ticks in particular are associated with numerous tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in the continental United States and are heterogeneous in their geographic extent. In comparison, little is known about TBPs in Central America (CA), representing a force health protection knowledge gap.

Recent studies have reported a wider breadth of TBP in CA than was previously anticipated, however, available information is sporadic and generally depends on passive surveillance efforts that detect pathogens in infected human blood or in ticks collected from the environment, rather than targeted surveillance of tick communities and their associated pathogens from their hosts.

Although environmental changes have often been overlooked in quantifying TBP risk, climate and landscape changes can significantly shift tick vector populations at a location, shift distributions of reservoir hosts, change pathogen circulation, and create opportunities for spillover to humans. Accordingly, we propose to adopt an integrated “One Health” approach to the surveillance of TBPs in CA, beginning with a pilot project in Honduras where Joint Task Force Bravo is located. Honduras has limited tick surveillance data collected through previously GEIS-funded efforts (PROMIS ID P0130_23_N6 and P0052_24_N6). We aim to improve existing tick surveillance data through adopting a One Health approach, which will include collecting ticks from wildlife and domestic vertebrate hosts from a variety of sites and ecotones throughout the country. These new data will be combined with increased collections of questing ticks and enhanced testing for TBPs. Integrating these One Health data will enable us to evaluate the spatial distribution of TBPs in response to tick and wildlife host data collected from across environmental gradients using species distribution models (SDM). Little is known about the tick vector communities, their distribution across environmental gradients, and the ecology of the TBP prevalence and diversity within tick species in Honduras and neighboring countries. Thus, our goal is to enhance TBP knowledge in this high priority region through the proposed integrative approach.

Establishing tick surveillance capacity for NAMRU SOUTH in Honduras requires the services of research institutions that can collect and identify specimens as well as conduct laboratory experiments for pathogen detection on these specimens. In this regard, this project will allow the execution tick and tick-borne pathogen surveillance in Honduras to generate actionable data that can be used for the benefit of the warfighter.

3. General Requirements:

Study sites will prioritize the departments of Olancho, Colón, Atlántida and Cortés, other regions might be considered upon coordination with NAMRU SOUTH.

The contractor will provide general classes of services including (but not limited to) project management, collection and processing of entomological samples, and shipment of collected samples. In addition, the contractor shall provide tick-borne disease incidence data available from local health authorities to correlate with vector densities and species composition.

Monitoring activities will be conducted by NAMRU SOUTH via monthly conference calls and one monitoring visit to selected field sites during the contract period. Monthly, short reports are expected during the conduction of the study.

4. Performance Requirements:

The study sites will be in Honduras and will prioritize the following regions:

· Olancho, Colón, Atlántida and Cortés

· Other sites might be requested by NAMRU SOUTH.

The contractor will provide general classes of services including (but not limited to) project management, coordination with local health authorities, provision of biological specimens, provision of epidemiological data, laboratory testing, shipment of samples, data analysis and reporting.

Periodic monitoring activities will be conducted by NAMRU SOUTH through in-person meetings and conference calls.

Where necessary, the contractor will secure all protocol provisions required by NAMRU SOUTH.

The following elements are required:

1. FIELD ACTIVITIES

a) Coordinate entomological collection activities with NAMRU SOUTH Entomology, experts from the Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas para Estudios en Salud (ICGES) and local partners including Ministry of Health (MoH).

b) Collect a minimum of 400 entomological specimens for morphological and molecular identification and pathogen screening. Entomological collections (2 per year, 1 per department) will be conducted using standard methods for tick collection such as dragging and by visual search over the vegetation and along animal trails inside forests.

c) Participate in animal sampling. Domestic animal hosts such as cattle, horses, and dogs will be sampled with the assistance of local veterinarians.

d) Provide field data and assist with preparation of field collection database (NAMRU SOUTH template).

2. LABORATORY ACTIVITIES

a) In conjunction with ICGES specialists, sort collected ticks by stage and sex and identify to species using taxonomic keys. Pool specimens by species, sex, site, collection date, and trapping method. Up to 400 specimens per year will be identified morphologically.

b) Store adult ticks and nymphs (potential vector species) collected in 80% ethanol. A subset of pathogen-positive samples will be shipped to NAMRU SOUTH or Defense Centers for Public Health – Aberdeen, Vector-Borne Disease Branch, Tick-Borne Disease Laboratory for confirmatory testing by RT-PCR assays.

c) Perform DNA extractions of tick specimens collected. A maximum of 250 individuals per year will be processed. Prepare DNA sample inventory.

d) Perform PCR and DNA sequencing targeting mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene for molecular identification and detection of pathogenic microorganisms in ticks. A maximum of 250 ticks will be processed and a maximum of 200 individuals will be barcoded per year if required.

e) Provide access to UNAH laboratory and use of equipment for pathogen detection and bloodmeal analysis in ticks and hematophagous diptera.

f) Contact the Ministry of Health to request additional tick specimens for identification and/or pathogen screening.

3. DATA SHARING

a) The contractor will provide collection of data information on field site location, habitat description, collection method, vector species identified, and numbers recorded per collection period per site as well as relevant epidemiological data as requested by NAMRU SOUTH Entomology.

b) Provide input for report and scientific manuscript preparation.

4. EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS

a) The contractor will cover all the costs of equipment, supplies and materials necessary for the execution of their activities. These include (but not limited to) supplies for collection, transport, storage and identification of entomological samples, morphological identification, DNA isolation, molecular identification and pathogen screening.

b) NAMRU SOUTH Entomology will provide field equipment and/or accessories when performing joint tick collections. Will also provide reagents, consumables and labor for tick DNA extraction.

5. SHIPMENTS

a) Upon request and payment by NAMRU SOUTH or DCPH-A, contractors shall conduct shipments of samples from field sites to DCPH-A or NAMRU SOUTH, respectively.

The delivery addresses are:

a. Defense Centers for Public Health – Aberdeen, DHA Public Health, 8300 Ricketts Point Rd. Bldg E-2850, APG Edgewood, MD 21010, USA, Attn.: Robyn Nadolny, PhD, phone number +1 410-436-5425.

b. NAMRU SOUTH, Entomology Department, Av. Venezuela cuadra 36 S/N, Bellavista, Callao, Peru, Attn.: Gissella Vasquez, phone number +51 614-4143

b) The contractor shall include the following clearly labeled into sample shipments:

1. Entomological samples collected as part of the study.

1. Nucleic acid material obtained from collected samples covered under this contract.

c) Required documentation for specimen exportation.

5. DELIVERABLES:

The materials and services specifically listed and requested must be delivered in a timely manner and must be of good quality.

a. Project database that includes specimen identification, collecting technique, location, date, and other pertinent information of ticks collected and following NAMRU SOUTH database format.

b. A minimum of 400 ticks collected across study sites. Up to 400 ticks morphologically identified. Specimens will be processed on-site and stored for molecular analyses.

c. Approximately 250 ticks processed for DNA extraction and pathogen screening, and up to 200 ticks for species molecular identification. Specimens will be processed on-site. Processed and additional specimens will be stored for testing by NAMRU SOUTH or partner laboratory for further morphological identification or molecular analysis, as needed.

6. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: N/A

7. TASK ORDERS: N/A

8. ANNUAL SCHEDULE:

Quarter 1 and 2:

· Organizational meetings, identify potential tick and tick-borne disease endemic sites through meetings with key contacts and MoH personnel.

· Coordinate entomological collection activities with local authorities.

· Purchase supplies and materials for field work and laboratory activities.

· Coordinate activities with ICGES and conduct joint collections at study sites.

· Participate in monthly teleconferences with NAMRU SOUTH.

· Conduct entomological sample collection activities in endemic areas in Honduras. Pooling of entomological specimens collected for molecular testing. Database and report preparation for submission to NAMRU SOUTH.

· Perform DNA extraction, PCRs for sequencing and pathogen screening, and DNA barcoding if required for species confirmation. Database and report preparation for submission to NAMRU SOUTH.

· Coordinate with MoH about historical or new tick specimens for pathogen screening and/or molecular identification.

· Send epidemiological data and laboratory results to NAMRU SOUTH.

· Perform one shipment of samples to NAMRU SOUTH or DCPH-A if required.

· Provide access to laboratory space and use of equipment for hematophagous diptera molecular testing and/or bloodmeal analysis.

Quarter 3 and 4:

· Continue entomological sample collection in Honduras.

· Continue DNA extractions and molecular testing of entomological specimens.

· Participate in monthly teleconference with NAMRU SOUTH.

· Perform one shipment of samples to NAMRU SOUTH or DCPH-A if required.

· Provide access to laboratory space and use of equipment for hematophagous diptera testing and/or bloodmeal analysis.

· Database quality control and data analysis.

· Deliver databases for field collecting data, vector species identification, DNA samples and PCR/sequencing to NAMRU SOUTH.

· Assist NAMRU SOUTH with data analysis, revision of study results and reporting, and manuscript preparation.

Period of performance:

The period of performance is 12 months. Include option Year 1 and Year 2.