Avian pathogen and parasite mapping in Alberta

This project addresses the need for clear baseline data of infections impacting avian populations, and the need for clear, thorough, and detailed reports on infection prevalence, affected avian species, and locations of infection occurrences from wildlife rehabilitation centres.
Our goal is to develop clear baseline measures of three major health impacts to avian biodiversity in Alberta— hemoparasites, gastrointestinal parasites, and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)—alongside prevalence mapping, pathology, and reporting on the relationship between symptoms and presence of infection.
We propose a two-part research project in collaboration with the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC). The first group (1 interns) will track parasites, reviewing past patient cases, recording avian patient species, symptomology, testing all avian intake patients for presence of parasites (identifying type and details as applicable). The second group (1 interns) will review past HPAI cases in the area, HPAI cases in Canada, record location and symptoms of reported cases, and, if resources allow, perform initial screening test on avian patients with symptoms of HPAI.
Both groups will then create reports on the status of their infection, mapping, disease dynamics (comparing to previous intake information and literature on cases and symptoms), and report their findings.

Faculty Supervisor:

Sherri Cox

Student:

Partner:

Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Guelph

Program: