With Zika and other re-emerging arboviruses taking such a prominent place at the moment, it would be great to have an idea of what BSL-3 insectary labs there are in Europe in terms of putting together some new multidisciplinary vector-host arbovirus studies. If you have a BSL-3 insectary comment below.
I know there's one in Glasgow University used for malaria vector studies (actually not sure what level it is). However BSL-3 would likely not be sufficient for zika vector capacity studies, see here for a relatively current list of BSL-4s:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3547859/
Thanks Amy, I think there is one in Liverpool and Pirbright too. As for the BSL-3 rating, Zika is currently HG3 in the UK and it is my understanding that ACDP are planning on allowing a derrogation to ACDP2, so I don't think a CL4/BSL4 lab would be a requirement, given the lack of competent vectors in the UK and the HG of the virus.
Here in Canada, Zika is currently Risk Level 2, but we study live infected mosquitoes at my lab at Brock University ... and we do it in a Containment Level 3 lab with a dedicated CL3 insectary in it. There are other labs in the country doing cell culture work with Zika in CL2 labs ... but when it comes to live, infected, mosquitoes ... I think it is only prudent to be as safe as possible and do it in CL3!
The Centre for Tropical and Infectious Diseases at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine has a CL3 Insectary, a large collection of disease vector species, and the approval to conduct arboviral research. Contact Dr. Gareth Lycett at LSTM for further details.
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