ECOFLU

The general objective of this project is to go deeper into the study of the pathogen-host- ecosystem relationship of influenza viruses to be able to carry out a better diagnosis, integral control and prevention of this viral infection that affects different animal species, including humans.
The specific objectives are:

1- Study of the role of the white stork in the epidemiology of AIV (avian influenza virus) by the integral study of epidemiological data, the host-pathogen relationship and ecology of the host species.
• Determination of the specific prevalence of AIV in adult storks nest and chickens and Wildlife Recovery Centres (WRCs).
• Determination of the presence and distribution of avian and mammalian type receptors for AIV in tissue from dead storks and the distribution of AIV in tissue from storks infected naturally.
• Study of local movements of white storks in wetlands where the presence of AIV was found and the potential effect of infection by AIV on the behavior of storks infected naturally.
2- Study of the ecology of AIVs, using a small peri-urban wetland as a model, with the continued presence of different subtypes of AIV, to try to interpret the entry, spread and persistence of viruses in the environment.
• Monitoring the evolution of AI viruses in a wetland model, in their relationship with the movements and species of birds.
• Determining the prevalence of pathogens of interest in animals infected with AIV.