Migration behavior of crested terns and introduction of the H5N1 virus in the southwestern Indian Ocean
The STHIVI project aims to explore the epidemiological role of the Greater Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii) in the introduction and circulation of avian influenza viruses between Africa and the islands of the southwestern Indian Ocean.
Several tern species have been identified as epidemiological reservoirs of low pathogenicity influenza viruses. Unlike these species, which mainly move between islands, the Greater Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii) migrates between the African coasts and the islands in the region, making it an ideal candidate for exploring regional eco-epidemiological connectivity. The study will combine telemetry data with virological and serological analyses. It will identify movement patterns, the frequency of interspecies contact, and the presence of antibodies or active viruses. In parallel, similar analyses will be conducted on the Sooty Tern (Onychoprion fuscatus), which breeds in sympatry. This project, jointly led by UMR PIMIT and UMR ENTROPIE, will provide novel data on the risks of viral spread in an island region that is particularly vulnerable from both a health and ecological perspective.
