Birds are key components of their ecosystems playing important roles as top predators in the environment. Birds are generally highly mobile and they annually aggregate at feeding and breeding colonies, often at very high densities. This creates an ideal transmission scenario for parasites, such as ticks, mites and helminths, and pathogens, such as avian influenza virus (bird flu).
We examine parasite prevalence and abundance in a wide range of wild birds using an integrative approach that assesses parasites based on morphology and genetics.
In addition, we use genetic methods and serology to test for avian influenza in wild birds and mammals, contributing knowledge on the epidemiology of this zoonotic virus that has the potential to decimate bird populations and is increasingly being reported in wild mammals.
