INVESTIGADORES
DIAZ Luis Adrian
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Long-distance migratory birds as viral agents dispersers. Dogma or fact?
Autor/es:
LA DIAZ; J TORRES DOWDALL; N KOMAR
Lugar:
Boulder, Colorado, Estados Unidos
Reunión:
Otro; 31st Annual Meeting of the Western Field Ornithologists; 2006
Institución organizadora:
Western Fields Ornothologist Association
Resumen:
DIAZ, LUIS ADRIAN, JULIAN TORRES DOWDALL, and NICHOLAS KOMAR. Long distance migratory birds as viral agents dispersers. Dogma or fact? Laboratorio Arbovirus, Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella", FCM, UNC. Enfermera Gordillo Gomez s/n, CP5016, Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, Argentina; ladriandiaz@yahoo.com.ar. Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523. Division of Vector Borne Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO.             The interactions between humans and migratory birds have been unfavorable for the latter. The survival of migratory birds is threatened by several human activities such as the high level of land transformation, the use of chemicals as pesticides and fertilizers, hunting, and the general contamination of the environment. Now, a new crusade has been initiated against migratory birds: we have accused them of being the responsible agent for the dispersion of pathogenic viruses. In the last decade, the number of publications about the interaction between viruses´ dispersion and migratory birds has increased markedly. The introduction of West Nile virus into America and the recent expansion of the H5N1 avian influenza are the main cause of the increased number of publication. Most of these papers report the presence of one of these viruses in a migratory species or discuss the potential risk of the viruses´ dispersion by these species. But only a few papers have experimentally analyzed the migratory birds´ capability to disperse viruses. Is there enough evidence to support the idea that migratory birds are long-distance agents of virus dispersion, or is it just dogma? What studies have been published on this subject, and what studies are necessary to achieve a better understanding of the dispersion of viruses by migratory birds? Is the attention these species receive justified with regard to virus dispersion? In this talk we will discuss the available information about the role of migratory bird species as dispersion agents of viruses. Additionally, we will discuss their potential importance by analyzing two models of regional- and global-scale relevance: the dispersion of arbovirus (i.e., West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis virus) and avian influenza virus (i.e., H5N1).