Descripción del proyecto
Estudio del contagio de enfermedades infecciosas a través de gaviotas
El proyecto SENTIMOUV estudiará el papel de las gaviotas patiamarillas («Larus michahellis») en el contagio de enfermedades infecciosas a través del acceso a fuentes de alimentos humanos. Esta ave costera se encuentra a menudo en la cuenca mediterránea occidental, donde entra en contacto con comida humana. El proyecto arrojará luz sobre la interacción mal comprendida entre las aves marinas y los patógenos, centrándose en la propagación de la toxoplasmosis y la gripe aviar. Entre otras cosas, SENTIMOUV estudiará la inmunidad a estas enfermedades en los polluelos y las dinámicas de las enfermedades a través de biorregistros y muestreos serológicos con el fin de determinar el ciclo de la transferencia de enfermedades de la fauna silvestre. El objetivo es desarrollar un modelo adaptable para predecir y gestionar enfermedades infecciosas relacionadas con la interfaz humano-fauna silvestre.
Objetivo
Infectious diseases present a significant and growing threat to public health, domestic livestock production, and biodiversity conservation. Due to their global distribution and wide-ranging movements, seabirds are important vectors for the spread of pathogens across continents and ocean basins. Coastal seabirds, which associate with and exploit anthropogenic food sources, are particularly likely to interact with human-associated pathogens and zoonotic agents, making them useful candidates for monitoring disease prevalence. However, many factors mediating the interactions between seabirds and pathogens remain unknown or poorly understood.
Our study will combine targeted field data collection, laboratory analysis, and quantitative modeling to develop a mechanistic understanding of the factors affecting prevalence and transmission of infectious diseases by seabirds at the wildlife-human interface. We will explore spatial and demographic factors affecting exposure and transmission rates for two key zoonotic diseases, toxoplasmosis and avian influenza, by a generalist coastal seabird, the yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) in the western Mediterranean basin. Within this study system, we will combine movement analysis using biologging, serological sampling, habitat and demographic analysis, and agent-based models to develop a comprehensive understanding of epidemiological dynamics. We will also use experimental studies to directly test the development of disease immunity in nestling birds and the effects of management actions on disease transfer. We will then apply scenario planning to study the effects of both management and habitat change on disease dynamics. Our results will not only improve understanding of gulls as vectors for infectious agents, but also provide a comprehensive quantitative framework for modeling disease dynamics that can be adapted to predicting and managing the spread of infectious disease at the wildlife-human interface.
Ámbito científico
- natural sciencesbiological scienceszoologyornithology
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiodiversity conservation
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystems
- agricultural sciencesanimal and dairy sciencedomestic animalsanimal husbandry
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencespublic healthepidemiologyzoonosis
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Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinador
75794 Paris
Francia