BoekFrom Mosquitoes to Birds: Unravelling the Role of Avian Hosts in Vector-Borne Pathogen Dynamics

This thesis aims to explore factors driving VBP outbreaks, with specific focus on birds in the transmission and amplification using the mosquito-borne pathogen Usutu virus (USUV) as a case study, particularly in urban habitats. The research is conducted as part of the One Health PACT consortium, (https:// www.onehealthpact.org/) which aims to unravel the dynamics of mosquitoborne diseases in the context of significant environmental and social changes. Birds play a crucial role in the disease dynamics, serving as primary host for the pathogen. This thesis contributes to the One Health PACT by investigating how passive and active bird surveillance, combined with monitoring of numbers, 19 1 General introduction demography and movements of bird populations can be used to detect the spatial spread of pathogens, assess the impact on wildlife populations, and identify factors influencing variations in host susceptibility. These bird studies offer critical insights into the ecology of pathogens, thereby strengthening the overall strategy to predict, monitor, and prevent disease emergence.