SCWDS continues to conduct collaborative surveillance and research studies regarding a variety of epidemiological aspects of avian influenza A virus (IAV) in wild birds and other wildlife species. Information obtained from these studies is critical for the development of effective surveillance programs for IAV in wild birds and to determine the potential for wild birds to serve as reservoirs or disseminators of highly pathogenic (HP) IAV.
Overarching goals of these studies are to better define wildlife reservoirs for IAV, gain an understanding of the trajectory of HP IAV in North American wildlife, provide recent field isolates for experimental and genetic studies, and maintain capacity and infrastructure for detection and response to emerging events as related to IAV. Examples of just some of the work performed are provided below.
IAV Disease Ecology & Evolution of Influenza A Viruses
Collaborative telemetry and disease ecology projects led and supported by long-time partners include research such as: IAV ecology in waterfowl and waterbirds, assessing antibody levels in various species of waterbirds and shorebirds, and understanding the probability of introduction of Eurasian IAV (or their genes) into North America.
IAV in Other Avian & Wildlife Species
As detections of IAVs in other avian and wildlife species continue, SCWDS and other collaborators work to understand the impact of IAV on other wildlife taxa and their populations. Areas of active research include: highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza A virus (IAV) in various species of waterfowl, using population immunity to predict the trajectory of highly pathogenic H5N1 in other avian species, expansion of wild bird IAV risk assessments, pathogenesis of highly pathogenic avian influenza in black vultures, and exploring the risk for mammalian adaptation.
