Avian Influenza Research Project and LaMNA

Detecting and Monitoring Avian Influenza Occurrence and
   Movement through Bird Populations in the Americas

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, such as H5N1, is a rapidly emerging issue for the health and safety of the nation and the world, potentially having profound effects on human health and the basic infrastructure of health delivery and the economy. Furthermore, the deleterious effects of H5N1 and any of the other 143 known sub-types of influenza A found in bird populations (including landbirds) could markedly affect the management and conservation of avian populations for years to come. At this nexus, bird-banding networks have a unique opportunity to provide a service to the public by providing the field sampling vital for disease surveillance and important information on disease dynamics and diversity.

LaMNA, the Institute for Bird Populations (IBP), and UCLA's Center for Tropical Research (CTR) are coordinating landbird sampling on a continental scale during the breeding and non-breeding seasons. Our collective objectives are to catalogue the occurrence and distribution of avian influenza sub-types, identify transmission paths in North American migratory birds, and to further the goal of developing custom vaccines against Influenza A. Participation by LaMNA members is a vital link in the project and complements the sampling occurring at MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survival) stations during the breeding season and MoSI (Monitoreo de Sobrevivencia Invernal) stations in Central America during migration.

Sampling began in the spring of 2006. Since then, over 30,000 viral samples and 16,000 feathers have been collected at LaMNA, MAPS, and MoSi stations. Samples are currently being tested by CTR, using cutting-edge techniques. Together with scientists from the Los Alamos National Laboratory, CTR has developed methods that will allow them to genetically detect 50% more strains of AIV than are detected by methods currently used as the gold standard for waterfowl samples. CTR provided a brief write-up on their progress for the May 2008 LaMNA newsletter (see page 2). More information is available on their website: http://www.ioe.ucla.edu/ctr/research/AvPath/avian_influenza_main.html.

We strongly urge members of LaMNA to participate in avian influenza sampling during the spring migration of 2009. Contact C. John Ralph or Linda Long for further details.

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