Work package 4 (WP4)

Development of a European wildlife disease network

Objective:

To develop a European network for wildlife health surveillance in which harmonised methods are adopted for:

  1. estimating abundance of key hosts (population size, density)
  2. diagnosing key pathogens in key hosts (sampling strategies, storage/archiving, diagnostic techniques)

Sub-objective: to involve European countries/networks/partners beyond APHAEA

  • in the development of harmonised methods
  • in the wildlife health surveillance network

Milestones and Deliverables:

  1. Identify stakeholders, organizations and experts to be contacted (for a+b)
  • August/September 2012 : Establish a list of participants (=network partners)
  1. Review of published and unpublished methods by APHAEA project team for established list of hosts and pathogens:
  • Template for abundance estimation (® WP1)
  • EWDA Diagnosis Cards (® WP2)
  • December 2012: Consultation of network partners
  1. Adaptation of review documents considering participants’ feedbacks
  • May 2013: Final, approved review versions available on the APHAEA website
  1. Proposal for harmonised procedures
  • August/September 2013: Harmonisation concept sent to network partners for review (assessment form):
    • Realistic methods for local applications?
    • Limitations?
    • Suggestions?
  • October 2013: 1st Consultation workshop ® detailed presentation of protocols, discussion and general agreement
  • February 2014: Approved harmonised protocols available on the APHAEA website
  1. Validation of endorsed protocols through application (® WP3)
    1. Estimating abundance of selected key hosts in selected countries
    2. Cross-sectional studies on selected key pathogens in selected countries
  • March 2015: 2nd Consultation workshop ® presentation of WP3 results (incl. feasibility, reliability and acceptance of proposed harmonised protocols); needs for adaptations vs. protocol approval; further steps (European network)
  • May 2015: Workshop proceeding available on the APHAEA website
Files: