The US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) is conducting market research to assess the commercial availability or technical maturity of technologies for rapid detection of infectious disease pathogens in arthropods.
The targeted product profile is for Arthropod Vector Pathogen Rapid Detection Devices (AVPRDDs), portable devices that enable service members to detect the presence of infectious disease pathogens in insects and related arthropods collected in austere environments. These devices provide the capability for service members to test trapped insects for the presence of infectious disease pathogens, thus providing data to inform the implementation of effective vector control and personal protective measures.
Prioritized infectious disease pathogens of interest for AVPRDDs include:
- Dengue virus
- Plasmodium spp. (malaria)
- Leishmania
- Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever virus
- Chikungunya virus
- Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia
- Tick-borne encephalitis virus
- Rift Valley fever virus
- Francisella tularensis (tularemia)
- Borellia burgdorferii (Lyme Disease)
- Sand Fly Fever virus
- Orientia tsutsugamushi (Scrub Typhus)
The current effort is to assess the availability and maturity of AVPRDD candidates and gauge industry interest in developing these candidates for the U.S., and foreign markets. Further details are available under: Solicitation Number: W81XWH-14-RFI-AVPRDD. The response deadline is March 3, 2014.