Advancing research on parasitic diseases to support disease control and improve public health.
The Parasitology Laboratory conducts research on parasitic diseases of public health importance in Laos, contributing to a better understanding of their transmission, distribution, and impact on affected populations.
Its activities include field studies, laboratory investigations, surveillance, and collaborative research programmes focused on malaria, neglected tropical diseases, and other parasitic infections. The laboratory also applies molecular and epidemiological approaches to better understand parasite diversity, transmission dynamics, and emerging public health challenges.
Through its research activities, the laboratory supports national and regional efforts aimed at disease control, elimination, and prevention. It works closely with public health authorities, research institutions, and international partners to strengthen scientific knowledge and support evidence-based interventions.
By generating data and expertise on parasitic diseases, the laboratory contributes to improving public health outcomes and strengthening disease control strategies in Laos.
By generating scientific evidence and supporting disease surveillance efforts, the laboratory contributes to public health preparedness and the response to infectious disease threats in Laos and the wider region.
All Research
Our Team
Projects
CAN2
Reinforced Collaboration for the Investigation and Response to Emerging Viral Pathogens of Security Concern
Reinforced Collaboration for the Investigation and Response to Emerging Viral Pathogens of Security Concern (Global Affairs Canada, National Microbiology Lab of Canada).
In collaboration with the National Microbiology Laboratory in Canada, we reinforced the biosafety and biosecurity of the BSL-2/3 laboratory, as well as field safety, through standardized operating procedures (SOPs) and the creation of a dedicated biosafety office, establishing an inventory of natural bat and rodent reservoirs for detection of SARS-like-CoVs and other putative zoonotic viral pathogens, and studying interspecies spill-over of these putative zoonotic viral pathogens.
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Canada.
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences, National University of Laos, Lao PDR.
- National Animal Health Laboratory, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Lao PDR.
Global Affairs Canada, Canada
The project aims to accomplish the following expected results:
- Enhanced capacity in Lao PDR to monitor for, rapidly detect, and effectively respond to disease events involving especially dangerous pathogens of bioterrorism and bioweapons concern.
- Increased knowledge and awareness among local scientists/community on zoonotic viral pathogens and their safe acquisition, handling, storage, and cataloguing of biological samples.
- Increased biosafety and biosecurity skills, awareness, and application at IPL through the creation of a dedicated biosafety office. • Strengthened detection, diagnosis, science, and response to emerging viral pathogens by Lao scientists, technicians, and other national stakeholders; and ultimately. • Reduced risks and threats from emerging infectious zoonotic diseases in Lao PDR and globally
Southeast Asia is well-known as a hotspot for emerging viral diseases, which have included Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection (SARSCoV), Avian Influenza H5N1, Nipah, and COVID-19. These viruses are believed to have originated in animals before being transmitted to humans, either directly or through an intermediate host.
Lao PDR, a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, is situated in a region recognized as a hotspot for emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) (Jones K.E., et al. 2008). However, Lao PDR currently lacks a robust EIDs surveillance system and has limited laboratory capacity for the rapid detection of novel emerging viral pathogens. Consequently, it is imperative to establish and reinforce local capabilities for the safe investigation and response to emerging zoonotic viral diseases.
The project, “Reinforced Collaboration for the Investigation and Response to Emerging Viral Pathogens of Security Concern,” is a scientific collaborative effort between the Institut Pasteur du Laos (IPL) in Lao PDR and the National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) in Canada, funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC). Following the completion of the initial pilot phase, the project is dedicated to further enhancing sustainable local capacities in Lao PDR for the safe investigation and response to emerging viral pathogens with pandemic potential, thus reducing the biological threats and strengthening the scientific cooperation between Canada and Lao PDR.
To implement the One Health approach, IPL, representing the human health sector, has established collaborative partnerships with local entities in both the animal and environmental sectors, including the Faculty of Environmental Sciences (FES) at the National University of Laos and the National Animal Health Laboratory (NAHL) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. These multi-sectoral partnerships play a vital role in ensuring the widespread delivery of positive changes in capacity and performance, practices or behaviour to a wide range of intermediaries and beneficiaries. Figure 1: Collaboration and conceptual framework.
Biosafety and biosecurity. Several activities have been implemented to increase the biosafety and biosecurity level of the institute. These include the nomination of a new scientist as Deputy Biosafety Officer to support the activities related to biosafety and biosecurity, the enrollment of a team member in Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Biobanking program, the installment of a new autoclave to maintain proper safety and waste management standards, and installation of improved Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras to expand the coverage area of surveillance.
Figure 2: Biosafety/biosecurity-related activities.
- Expanded coverage area of a CCTV system
- The installment ofa new autoclave
Local capacity building.
Several Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were revised and improved, sample inactivation workflow for swab and tissue was adjusted according to the new BSL-2 laboratory. The screening protocols of 4 viral groups (coronaviruses, hantaviruses, paramyxoviruses, and flaviviruses) were updated to include the procedure for heatsealing plates. Multiple on-site visits were organized to strengthen the skills of Lao scientists and researchers. This included two NML scientists’ visits to IPL, where training was provided on bioinformatics and ELISA techniques.
Field missions.
The field missions for the year 2025 were conducted in 3 sites, including Kasi district, Vientiane province; Khounkham district, Khammouane province; and Viengthong district, Bolikhamxay province. As of now, a total of 14,291 biological samples were collected. These samples included anal, saliva, and urine swabs, ectoparasites, as well as blood and tissues obtained from bats, rodents, and small mammals. The collection methods involved both livecapture techniques and surveys conducted at local wet markets. Additionally, bat guano (labelled as environmental samples) was collected using plastic sheets.
Figure 3: Number of biological samples collected.
IPSN
Genomic surveillance of avian influenza viruses in Lao PDR
- National Animal Health Laboratory (NAHL)
- Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Lao PDR, Department of Forestry and Agriculture in Vientiane Capital, Luang Prabang and Champasack, Lao PDR
- French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), Lao PDR.
To establish a pilot genomic surveillance program for avian influenza viruses (AIVs) in Live Bird Markets (LBMs), based on environmental and animal sampling. To generate whole genome sequences of AIVs sampled from LBMs, to identify risk factors that contribute to increased AIVs prevalence and spillover, and to detect molecular markers linked with higher virulence or transmission in humans, or antiviral resistance.
Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) cause severe respiratory illness with high fatality rates in humans. LBMs are known to facilitate the recombination and transmission of AIVs with pandemic potential. Lao PDR shares borders with China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand, countries that have previously reported AIV outbreaks.
In 2024, Vietnam and Cambodia reported human infections with H5. There is a knowledge gap on AIVs circulating in Lao PDR.
To address this, IPL established a pilot genomic surveillance program to characterize circulating AIVs from LBMs in three Laotian regions: North (Luang Prabang), Central (Vientiane Capital), and South (Champasack)
Samples from the environment and poultry were collected and screened, and subtyped for AIV. Positive samples with high viral loads were directly sequenced to generate whole-genome sequences.
Samples with low viral loads were amplified in specific pathogen-free (SPF) embryonated eggs under Biosafety Level
(BSL)- 3 conditions before direct sequencing.
Phylogenetic and mutation analysis were performed with whole-genome sequences, and mutations in genomes contributing to enhanced replication, transmissibility, virulence, virion stability, or drug resistance were identified.
total of 2054 samples have been collected from November 2024 to October 2025, in which 607 AIVpositive samples were detected (29.6%), with H5Nx (n=417), H9Nx (n=92), HxNx (n=78), and co-occurring H5Nx/N9Nx (n=24) as the identified subtypes. It was found that ducks had higher AIV-positive rates compared to chickens, and environmental samples had higher positive rates compared to animal samples across all three locations. Additionally, water and slaughtering equipment typically showed the highest AIV-positive rates (Figure 4). The whole-length genome sequence was obtained via direct sequencing for 58 samples, and 35 whole-length genome sequences were obtained after amplification in SPF-eggs for 35 samples. Figure 4. AIV prevalence in various sample types collected from LBMs from Luang Prabang, Vientiane Capital and Champasack.
FLULAO
PIMES
Innovative platform for molecular and serological diagnostics
Institut Pasteur de Paris, France.
- Fonds Equipe France, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, France Surveillance studies in humans include the establishment of a fever surveillance site in Vieng Phou Kha, Luang Namtha, as well as seroprevalence sites in
- 1) Kasi, Vientiane Province
- 2) Naxaythong, Vientiane Capital
- 3) Pakse, Champasack Province.
- Surveillance studies in animals were performed in Vieng Phou Kha, Luang Namtha. Retrospective studies involved screening 1,500 human samples and 600 samples from bats and rodents previously collected through other initiatives and stored at the IPL Biobank.
To establish a new platform to develop novel serological and molecular diagnostic tools against priority viruses, and to estimate the presence and circulation of these pathogens in humans and animals collected prospectively and retrospectively. To train a team of young Lao researchers to ensure they acquire the necessary skills to work with these new technologies. To share the study results with the Lao Ministry of Health, various Lao institutional collaborators, and international public health authorities.
This project aims to develop cutting-edge, highperformance molecular diagnostic tools to detect new viruses in samples collected from humans and animals of Lao PDR. These tools can theoretically be generated and validated within weeks if the sequence is known, contributing to a rapid response against an emerging outbreak. These tools can also be used to estimate the prevalence of these pathogens in the general population and strengthen surveillance efforts in Lao PDR. The establishment of this novel diagnostic platform will allow local researchers to be trained on the development of these techniques against any known or novel pathogens and constitute an essential link for the successful control and prevention of infectious disease outbreaks.
Novel field-friendly molecular diagnostic assays based on isothermal amplification of nucleic acids (recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and loop-mediated isothermal amplification techniques), as well as novel serological assays (luciferase immunoprecipitation system (LIPS)) were developed or will be developed against several target pathogens:
- Laotian phleboviruses (LPV) 1 and 2, Jingmen tick virus, Wenzhou virus, Loei virus, bat hantavirus
- Tembusu virus.
Using LPV1 and LPV2 as a proof-of-concept Development of RPA and LAMP assays and screening of sandflies. The development of molecular assays specific to the RdRp gene of LPV1 and LPV2 was found to be specific (no cross-reactivity between the two pathogens) and sensitive, with a limit of detection of 10 genome copies (Figure 7). These assays were used to screen a total of 157 sandfly samples collected from Vieng Phou Kha. Screening with LAMP-based assays revealed a positive rate of 8 positives (5.1%) and 2 positives (1.3%) against LPV1 and 2, respectively. Screening with RPA-based assays revealed a positive rate of 23 positives (14.6%) and 24 positive (15.3%) against LPV 1 and 2, respectively. Figure 7. Development of LAMP (left) and RPA-based (right) assays against LPV 1 and 2.
ECOMORE
YRGC 2024
Uncovering Hidden Pathogens: Virome characterization of bat-infesting arthropods in Lao PDR
Entomology Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Laos.
Young Researcher’s Grant Challenge 2024, Foundation lnstitut Pasteur du Laos
This project aims to achieve the following expected outcomes.
- The identification of novel/known viral pathogens: Utilizing the metatranscriptomic approach, this study aims to uncover both known and potentially novel viral pathogens harbored by bat-infecting hematophagous arthropods (BIHA). These findings could highlight viruses with zoonotic significance.
- Characterization of viral diversity and abundance: By analyzing the viral communities within BIHA, this research will provide comprehensive insights into the diversity and prevalence of viruses carried by these arthropods in bat populations.
- Contribution to further studies: Genomic prevalence of putative viruses and related results from this proposed research will serve as background evidence for future studies.
Arthropoda, the largest phylum in the animal kingdom, constitutes the majority of global animal biomass. Numerous arthropod species serve as vectors for diverse viruses, for example, dengue, Japanese encephalitis, West Nile, and Chikungunya transmitted by mosquitoes; Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever transmitted by ticks; and Toscana virus transmitted by sandflies. Likewise, bats, which constitute the second most specious mammal order, host a multitude of viruses with some of which have spilled over to humans, leading to disease outbreaks, epidemics, or pandemics, including SARS, Ebola, Nipah viruses, etc. Importantly, several arthropod species infest bats, such as bat flies, ticks, mites, and fleas, and these have been shown to harbor viruses from families including Flaviviridae, Rhabdoviridae, Reoviridae, and Peribunyaviridae. Moreover, beyond viral sequence detection, infectious viruses have also been isolated from BIHA, thereby highlighting their potential role in viral maintenance and transmission.
In Lao PDR, knowledge of viral pathogens in BIHA remains limited. Institut Pasteur du Laos previously reported the discovery of a nearly complete segmented reovirus in these arthropods, but broader viral diversity is yet to be explored. This project applies a metatranscriptomic approach to investigate the prevalence and diversity of putative viral pathogens in BIHA collected from bats in Lao PDR. The findings will contribute to a better understanding of the role of BIHA in the amplification, maintenance, and transmission of viruses in natural ecosystems.
The proposed study uses the collected BIHA stored in IPL’s biobank as starting materials; these samples have undergone taxonomic identification using both morphological and genetic methods. Samples were categorized and pooled based on location, time of collection, and host species, and subjected to metatranscriptomic sequencing.
The sequencing data were processed and analyzed, and the detected viral sequences were validated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Comprehensive analyses were conducted by integrating ecological data, host taxonomy, and viral pathogen information to explore relationships among these variables.
A total of 1,378 ectoparasite samples were analyzed and distributed across several families (Figure 14). The majority of samples belonged to the families Streblidae (768 samples) and Nycteribiidae (430 samples), together accounting for nearly 87% of the total. Smaller proportions were observed in Tenuipalpidae (77 samples), Mites (68 samples), and Acaridae (22 samples), while Anisolabididae (7 samples), Ixodidae (4 samples), and Pulicidae (2 samples) were minimally represented. These BIHA were extracted and pooled into 60 pools based on bat host and ectoparasite taxonomic classifications. The next-generation sequencing (NGS) libraries of the extracted RNA were then prepared and subjected to deep sequencing.
Public Health
Public Health surveillance activities
- National Centre for Laboratory and Epidemiology (NCLE), Ministry of Health, Lao PDR.
- Department of Communicable Diseases Control (DCDC), Ministry of Health, Lao PDR.
- National Animal Health Laboratory (NAHL), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Lao PDR.
- 103 Hospital and Settathirath Hospital, Lao PDR.
N/A
One of the mandates of IPL is to provide support to frontline Lao institutions responsible for outbreak response in animals and humans. As part of the disease control and prevention strategy, IPL provides PCRbased diagnostics and sequencing support to other public health partners. In 2025, IPL performed the following public health activities: 1) PCR-based diagnostics against arbovirus infections, 2) PCR-based diagnostics
viruses were low pathogenic and belonged to the Y280/ G9-like Clade. The E627K mutation was observed in a subset of H5-subtype viruses but not in H9-subtype viruses. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the H5- subtype viruses were highly pathogenic and belonged to Clade 2.3.2.1e, and H9N2 viruses were low pathogenic and belonged to the Y280/G9-like Clade. The E627K mutation was observed in a subset of H5-subtype viruses but not in H9-subtype viruses.
Reports on these findings were shared in a timely manner with the relevant partners to support informed decisionmaking and strategic planning. The services provided by the Virology Laboratory constitute a key contribution to Lao human and animal health, and underscore the commitment of IPL towards fellow Lao institutions in ongoing disease control and prevention efforts in Lao PDR.
