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Use of Stable Isotopes to Trace Bird Migrations and Molecular Nuclear Techniques to Investigate the Epidemiology and Ecology of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (Phase II)
Closed for proposals
Project Type
Project Code
D32034CRP
2224Approved Date
Start Date
Expected End Date
Participating Countries
Description
The objective of this project will be to evaluate the origin of wild bird that carry avian influenza (AI) and other potentially dangerous pathogens at their stopover places and match the obtained results with the knowledge obtained through conventional migration monitoring approaches. Stable isotopes (SI) are promising huge potential when the origin (migration) of individual wild birds is required, because the probability of capturing labelled bird with specific characteristics (disease carrier) using conventional methods is negligible. Knowledge and experience obtained through the previous project (D32030) will be of great value for the success of this project.
Objectives
To understand in depth the origin and the migration of wild birds that carry avian influenza viruses or potentially other dangerous pathogens, thus understanding the major pathways of disease transmission through the long range migratory birds.
Specific objectives
To detect the wild birds that carry avian influenza viruses and eventually other potentially dangerous pathogens and evaluate the molecular epidemiology of these pathogens.
To investigate the origin of the wild birds which carry dangerous pathogens through the evaluation of the stable isotope ratios in feather samples.