Stable Isotopes to Trace Migratory Birds and to Identify Harmful Diseases

This manuscript discusses the potentials of the approaches as mentioned below to monitor the AIVs in WMW. Molecular diagnostic platforms enable for accurate detection of the AIVs in the feces of infected birds. Similar technologies can be used to determine the bird species through DNA barcoding, enabling non-invasive research on the epidemiology of the disease. Wild migratory waterfowl (WMW) play significant role in thetransmission of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) on large distances.Understanding bird migrations may therefore significantly contribute towardsunderstanding of the disease epidemiology, however most conventionalapproaches to trace WMW migrations are based on capturing, tagging (mostlyringing or GPS devices) and their re-capturing to link the departure andarrival places.Stable isotope ratios in metabolically inert tissues (feathers, beaks, claws) reflect the ratios present at the point of intake (drinking or feeding), thus enabling for tracing bird origins at stopover places. Molecular diagnostic platforms such as the polymerase chain reaction(PCR) enable for accurate detection of the AIVs in the feces of infectedbirds. Similar technologies (genetic sequencing) can be used to determine thebird species through DNA barcoding. Simple and easy collection of feather andfecal samples at the stopover places may generate a full information packageon which species of WMW carries the AIVs (PCR+DNA barcoding on the feces), aswell as the origin of these species (SI+DNA barcoding on the feathers).Therefore, such approaches enable for research on the epidemiology and theecology of the AIVs in WMW using a non-invasive platform, which does notrequire capturing of WMW. This manuscript discusses the potentials of theseapproaches to monitor the AIVs in WMW.p>