Animal Virology

Virology is the study of the infectious agents that cause disease in humans and animals. This covers the investigation of virulence underlying processes, virus epidemiology, and immunological responses to viruses.

It includes research on the pathogenicity, diagnostics, identification, epidemiology, and immunological responses to a variety of viral diseases, such as avian metapneumovirus, infectious bronchitis virus, feline calicivirus, mosquito-borne arboviruses, bluetongue virus, and schmallenberg virus.

Methods used include: diagnostic identification methods, ELISA, flow cytometry, transcriptomic and genomic technologies, epidemiology, proteomics and infection models.

The objectives of the research are to investigate the transmission channels and behaviour of pathogens during infections and to use this knowledge to develop more effective therapeutic strategies or vaccinations to enhance the health of animals.

Animal virology encompasses a variety of viral families associated with a wide range of clinical diseases. These include the areas listed below:

• Molecular immunopathogenesis of avian respiratory pathogens
• Virus causing porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome
• Evolution, and transmission of significant veterinary viral pathogens
• Malignant catarrhal fever of domestic cattle
• Mosquito-borne arboviruses