Chris Niebuhr, PhD
@mongoosekiwi.bsky.social
Wildlife Disease Ecology. Scientist at Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, a Crown Research Institute of Aotearoa / New Zealand.
Reposted by Chris Niebuhr, PhD
We found RHDV2 in gulls! While the virus is likely to be dietary in origin, this suggests that birds may act as mechanical vectors for virus spread. Work by Steph Waller, @dwinter.bsky.social @eddieholmes.bsky.social @mongoosekiwi.bsky.social et al. journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Metatranscriptomic detection of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 in karoro (southern black-backed gulls) | Journal of Virology
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2; species Lagovirus europaeus) is a highly pathogenic lagovirus (Caliciviridae) responsible for a lethal disease in rabbits and hares (1). First identified in ...
journals.asm.org
July 3, 2025 at 10:37 PM
We found RHDV2 in gulls! While the virus is likely to be dietary in origin, this suggests that birds may act as mechanical vectors for virus spread. Work by Steph Waller, @dwinter.bsky.social @eddieholmes.bsky.social @mongoosekiwi.bsky.social et al. journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
"This study adds to a growing literature showing that when we manipulate animal populations, we also manipulate the conditions under which pathogens circulate."
Landowners release 50million pheasants a year into the British countryside - and a new study shows how this is boosting the number of ticks carrying Lyme disease
www.forbes.com/sites/johndr...
www.forbes.com/sites/johndr...
We’re Releasing Millions Of Birds. The Ticks Are Thriving
Each year, millions of pheasants are released into woods and fields in the U.K. for recreational shooting. As a result the bacteria that cause Lyme disease are increasing.
www.forbes.com
April 29, 2025 at 12:52 AM
"This study adds to a growing literature showing that when we manipulate animal populations, we also manipulate the conditions under which pathogens circulate."
Reposted by Chris Niebuhr, PhD
WOS member Silas Fischer is the lead author of the research featured here, which shows a bias in #ornithology research toward studying more aesthetically appealing birds.
Bird Bias? New Research Reveals ‘Drab’ Species Get…Less Research • The Revelator
Focusing on brightly plumaged and familiar birds can leave important conservation questions unanswered — and even put less attractive species at risk.
therevelator.org
April 22, 2025 at 8:01 PM
WOS member Silas Fischer is the lead author of the research featured here, which shows a bias in #ornithology research toward studying more aesthetically appealing birds.
Sharing our recent paper for those interested:
"Modelling transmission and control of Toxoplasma gondii in New Zealand farmland" royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10....
"Modelling transmission and control of Toxoplasma gondii in New Zealand farmland" royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10....
March 11, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Sharing our recent paper for those interested:
"Modelling transmission and control of Toxoplasma gondii in New Zealand farmland" royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10....
"Modelling transmission and control of Toxoplasma gondii in New Zealand farmland" royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10....
A behind-the-scenes visit to the Hawaiʻi Bishop Museum's insect collection. Found some endemic New Zealand mosquitoes (Culex pervigilans) collected from 1960!
December 16, 2024 at 7:58 PM
A behind-the-scenes visit to the Hawaiʻi Bishop Museum's insect collection. Found some endemic New Zealand mosquitoes (Culex pervigilans) collected from 1960!
Reposted by Chris Niebuhr, PhD
Avian influenza virus surveillance across New Zealand and its subantarctic islands detects H1N9 in migratory shorebirds, but not 2.3.4.4b HPAI H5N1, by @jemmageoghegan.bsky.social and others
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Avian influenza virus surveillance across New Zealand and its subantarctic islands detects H1N9 in migratory shorebirds, but not 2.3.4.4b HPAI H5N1
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus has never been detected in New Zealand. The potential impact of this virus on New Zealand's wild birds would be catastrophic. To expand our knowledge of ...
www.biorxiv.org
October 1, 2024 at 1:24 AM
Avian influenza virus surveillance across New Zealand and its subantarctic islands detects H1N9 in migratory shorebirds, but not 2.3.4.4b HPAI H5N1, by @jemmageoghegan.bsky.social and others
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
New avian malaria infection records in NZ seabirds, including the first documented case in the at risk Westland petrel/tāiko.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
New insights into avian malaria infections in New Zealand seabirds - Parasitology Research
The past few years have been marked by a drastic increase in pathogen spillover events. However, the extent and taxonomic range at which these events take place remain as crucial unanswered questions ...
link.springer.com
April 16, 2024 at 9:56 PM
New avian malaria infection records in NZ seabirds, including the first documented case in the at risk Westland petrel/tāiko.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
“This confirms that while the [avian influenza] virus may have adapted to marine mammals, it still has the ability to infect birds...it is a multi-species outbreak.”
www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news...
www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news...
Avian Influenza Virus Is Adapting to Spread to Marine Mammals
Avian influenza virus H5N1 has adapted to spread between birds and marine mammals, finds a study from UC Davis and partners in Argentina.
www.ucdavis.edu
March 19, 2024 at 1:43 AM
“This confirms that while the [avian influenza] virus may have adapted to marine mammals, it still has the ability to infect birds...it is a multi-species outbreak.”
www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news...
www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news...
The 2023 One Health Aotearoa Symposium in Wellington was a success. We had some very good speakers, including Rachelle Binny, discussing her modelling efforts in toxoplasmosis!
December 13, 2023 at 8:44 PM
The 2023 One Health Aotearoa Symposium in Wellington was a success. We had some very good speakers, including Rachelle Binny, discussing her modelling efforts in toxoplasmosis!
Excellent talks at the 2023 Australasian Network for Ecology and Transportation (ANET) Conference here in Christchurch, NZ.
Including this one by Jon Sullivan of Lincoln University, who we are currently collaborating with to investigate impacts of road-kill on native NZ avifauna.
Including this one by Jon Sullivan of Lincoln University, who we are currently collaborating with to investigate impacts of road-kill on native NZ avifauna.
November 30, 2023 at 1:46 AM
Excellent talks at the 2023 Australasian Network for Ecology and Transportation (ANET) Conference here in Christchurch, NZ.
Including this one by Jon Sullivan of Lincoln University, who we are currently collaborating with to investigate impacts of road-kill on native NZ avifauna.
Including this one by Jon Sullivan of Lincoln University, who we are currently collaborating with to investigate impacts of road-kill on native NZ avifauna.
Avian malaria!
“The populations have basically taken a nosedive over the last 15 to 20 years as the climate has changed and mosquitoes are going higher and higher in elevation”
edition.cnn.com/2023/11/02/w...
“The populations have basically taken a nosedive over the last 15 to 20 years as the climate has changed and mosquitoes are going higher and higher in elevation”
edition.cnn.com/2023/11/02/w...
Mosquitoes are driving these birds to extinction. With only 5 left in the wild, scientists are racin...
The ‘akikiki, a small, gray bird native to Hawaii, could go extinct within months.
edition.cnn.com
November 23, 2023 at 10:27 PM
Avian malaria!
“The populations have basically taken a nosedive over the last 15 to 20 years as the climate has changed and mosquitoes are going higher and higher in elevation”
edition.cnn.com/2023/11/02/w...
“The populations have basically taken a nosedive over the last 15 to 20 years as the climate has changed and mosquitoes are going higher and higher in elevation”
edition.cnn.com/2023/11/02/w...
Reposted by Chris Niebuhr, PhD
Here’s the #penguinpicoftheday, #PPOTD, of a gnarly tick being taken off a little blue penguin yesterday. This bird had ticks all over, including in its mouth. (With permits) we collected the ticks and will try to figure out if they are a real problem in this population, or not.
🌎🧪
🌎🧪
October 10, 2023 at 1:40 AM
Here’s the #penguinpicoftheday, #PPOTD, of a gnarly tick being taken off a little blue penguin yesterday. This bird had ticks all over, including in its mouth. (With permits) we collected the ticks and will try to figure out if they are a real problem in this population, or not.
🌎🧪
🌎🧪
- Did you know that cats are among the most damaging invasive predators in the world?
- Did you also know that New Zealand has the highest rate of cat ownership in the world?
(Check out our latest review to learn more!) newzealandecology.org/nzje/3550
- Did you also know that New Zealand has the highest rate of cat ownership in the world?
(Check out our latest review to learn more!) newzealandecology.org/nzje/3550
November 22, 2023 at 8:56 PM
- Did you know that cats are among the most damaging invasive predators in the world?
- Did you also know that New Zealand has the highest rate of cat ownership in the world?
(Check out our latest review to learn more!) newzealandecology.org/nzje/3550
- Did you also know that New Zealand has the highest rate of cat ownership in the world?
(Check out our latest review to learn more!) newzealandecology.org/nzje/3550
Toxoplasmosis wipes out $12k of lambs, bringing cat control issues to the fore
www.stuff.co.nz/business/far...
www.stuff.co.nz/business/far...
November 22, 2023 at 3:53 AM
Toxoplasmosis wipes out $12k of lambs, bringing cat control issues to the fore
www.stuff.co.nz/business/far...
www.stuff.co.nz/business/far...