Contact us:

At present, although some wildlife disease research has been carried out by Charles Darwin Research Station and other visiting international scientists, there is still much we do not know about the distribution, abundance and impact of pathogens that affect Galapagos fauna. In order to be able to devise wildlife disease management plans and assess future change that may arise from new disease introduction or climate change, we need to get a current picture of both native and introduced pathogens that are present in the archipelago. The GGEPL team uses a range of molecular and pathology techniques (such microscopic analysis and detection of antibodies) to examine material from regular surveys of live animals, and opportunistic necropsies of animals that are found dead. We are also investigating the diseases that are harboured by many domestic and introduced species, that threaten to spill over in to the wild populations.

Many of the pathogens found in Galapagos are new, haven't been studied before with molecular techniques, or are slightly different from mainland forms requiring adaptation of existing methods. Therefore, many new molecular tools have to be developed by the project.  GGEPL scientists have established a number of sensitive, mostly PCR based assays designed to monitor wildlife diseases in the endemic species of the archipelago.

The laboratory also uses a range of other techniques for pathology investigations including histology, serology, haematology and bacteriology.

Pathogens carried by domestic animals, are sometimes capable of being transmitted to wild species. For example, the Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) which occurs in domestic dogs, can infect and kill a large range of carnivores including pinniped (seal) species. CDV was responsible for the widespread extinction of the wild dog from large areas of sub-Saharan Africa. CDV was also responsible for causing the massive die-off of thousands of Caspian seals (now a IUCN vunerable species) in 2000; (see article by Kennedy et al., 2000) and for a mass mortality among seals in lake Baikal, Russia. On the Galapagos Islands, outbreaks of Canine distemper have occurred amongst domestic dogs in the major population centres. Native sealions and fur seals in Galapagos could be at risk of CDV and other pathogens circulating in domestic carnivores, because they frequently come into contact. GGEPL scientists have initiated a survey of the exposure to such viruses amongst the sealion and fur seal populations. In addition, we are working with WildAid to monitor the prevelance of key pathogens in domestic dogs and cats that present threats to endemic wildlife.

West Nile Virus (WNV) has recently emerged as a potent threat to New World biodiversity. The virus infects a wide range of host species: birds, mammals (including man) and reptiles are all suscepitible to infection which is largely transmitted through intermediate vectors, notably biting insects such as mosquitoes. To date the virus has been shown to infect over 280 bird species and a variety of mammalian and reptile hosts. Since arriving on the Eastern continental US in 1999, WNV has since spread inexorably South and West, reaching Central America and the Caribbean by 2003 and becoming established on the West Coast of the US by 2004. The virus was responsible for widespread regional die-offs amongst birds in the US, has killed large numbers of other animals and caused human casualties (284 in 2002). The virus could reach continental Ecuador within 2 years, at which point it poses an acute threat to the islands unique fauna unless strict precautionary measures are taken. A risk assessment presented at our West Nile Virus Workshop, suggests that by far, the greatest threat of WNV introduction to the islands comes from mosquitoes arriving on passenger aircraft, with smaller risks coming from sea cargo and migrating birds.

In 1996 Park Staff patrolling the highlands of Santa Cruz, observed a number of tortoises dying from a mystery ailment. Similar symptoms and deaths have recurred within the giant tortoise population in that area in subsequent years, particularly during the colder periods. The causative agent of these deaths still remains to be identified. Veterinary staff from GGEPL, (in collaboration with  colleagues from the CDRS) have begun the systematic monitoring the tortoise population in the Santa Cruz highlands. Samples from both symptomatic and healthy individuals in the area are being tested in the GGEPL laboratory for the presence of candidate pathogens.

One of the key ways in which pathogens and parasites are transmitted is through biting arthropod vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks. Native vector species may transmit pathogens that occur naturally in Galapagos but may also be able to transmit novel diseases should they be introduced. Several potential vector species have been introduced to the islands that could alter the transmission of existing wildlife diseases or act as vectors for new introduced pathogens.

GGEPL scientists are currently evaluating the distribution and abundance of the known West Nile Virus (WNV) vector mosquito species in Galapagos. This will help in understanding the potential impacts of WNV and suggest possible control strategies. We are also using genetic techniques to analyse mosquito blood meals to determine feeding patterns on endemic Galápagos species, and what parasites they may be transmitting.