Dr. Mike McKay, director of GLIER, Dr. Kenneth Ng, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, and Dr. Dan Mennill, professor of integrative biology, collaborate to monitor influenza virus subtypes in wild bird populations across Windsor-Essex, aiming to develop a novel surveillance platform to safeguard human, animal, and environmental health.
WINDSOR, Ont. — A team of University of Windsor researchers is launching a study to track influenza virus subtypes infecting wild bird populations in the Windsor-Essex region.
By analyzing environmental samples from key bird congregation areas, the team aims to monitor the levels and types of infections, helping to prepare for potential spillover into livestock and humans.
The one-year project is supported by a $150,000 grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Catalyzing One Health Research on Avian Influenza initiative, under the CIHR Centre for Research on Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies.
“With the first Canadian human case of H5N1 avian influenza recently confirmed in British Columbia and dozens of documented cases in the U.S. over the past year, we must remain vigilant,” says Kenneth Ng, professor of chemistry and biochemistry and project lead.
“Although these cases have been isolated and the virus doesn’t yet spread efficiently in humans, the situation can change quickly as the virus evolves.”
The researchers will establish and validate a sustainable surveillance platform in the Windsor-Essex border region, a critical entry point for viruses and other pathogens into Canada. The region is also a key intersection of two of North America’s major migratory bird flyways.
"This platform will allow us to monitor changes in influenza virus subtype composition in real-time,” explains Dr. Ng.
“Our goal is to identify mutations that enhance the virus’s ability to infect and reproduce in different hosts, such as birds, livestock, and humans.”
Collaborative Expertise
The interdisciplinary team includes Ng, Dan Mennill, professor of integrative biology, and Mike McKay, director of the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research (GLIER). Each brings a unique perspective to the study:
- Graduate student Cam Chevalier, under Dr. Mennill’s supervision, will identify sampling sites for resident and migratory waterfowl likely to harbour avian influenza.
- Graduate student Ryland Corchis-Scott, under Dr. McKay, will process environmental samples to detect influenza viruses.
- Post-doctoral fellow Ana Podadera, from Ng’s lab, will lead the development of genome sequencing methods to compare influenza strains found in wildlife, livestock, and humans.
One Health Approach
The research takes a “One Health” approach, linking human, animal, and environmental health to better understand the interplay between wild bird infections and influenza outbreaks in farm animals and people.
“This project creates an innovative surveillance platform to monitor and compare virus genome sequences across different populations over time,” Ng says. "By integrating this platform into a broader public policy framework, we aim to provide actionable insights for government and industry decision-makers."
The team is collaborating with the Canada Biomedical Research Fund-supported INSPIRE network, with training coordinator Rowena Hill-Ernesto leading engagement efforts with livestock producers and regulatory agencies.
“Every spillover infection—from bird to human or livestock to human—gives the virus another opportunity to mutate,” Ng says.
“While human infections are currently rare, the risk remains that mutations could enable efficient human-to-human transmission, potentially triggering a public health crisis.”
This research underscores the University of Windsor’s commitment to addressing global challenges through bold, impactful scientific inquiry.
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