dr. Marina Meester, assistant professor at the faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University
For the future control and surveillance of swine influenza virus, we need to understand how the virus is spreading across Europe.
For spread across continents, trade of live pigs has been suggested as main transmission route. Is that the same for Europe?
That is what I wanted to investigate, using sequence data of swine influenza from different European countries.
Thanks to the STSM grant of working group 2 of the ESFLU COST Action, I could visit the spatial epidemiology lab (SpELL) of Université Libre de Bruxelles.
Under supervision of dr. Simon Dellicour we used a phylogeographic analysis with a joint generalized linear model to study whether trade of live pigs, trade of pork or demographic factors related to swine production per country, are predictors for swine influenza virus spread across ten countries.
In five weeks I learned more about phylogeographics of SIV than I could have learned on my own in a year. The help of Simon and also his colleagues was amazing.
I enjoyed my stay in Brussels and expect more collaboration between the SpELL and the farm animal health unit of Utrecht University in the future.
I recommend all young researchers within ESFLU to apply for a grant in the next round. It is a great experience.
The results of the phylogeographic models are coming soon! I am looking forward to show the interesting outcomes.
Paula Rebollo- PhD student in UAB, Spain
I had the incredible opportunity to participate in a Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM) at the Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover (TiHo) under the guidance of Isabel Hennig-Pauka.
The Epidemiology Institute is located in Bakum, a charming village about an hour from Bremen and three hours from Hannover. This area is notable for its high density of pig farms, making it a vital hub for studies in pig medicine. The institute also serves as an internship center for TiHo students specializing in this field.
During my stay, my primary responsibility was to conduct a literature review on biosecurity measures related to Swine Influenza and other respiratory diseases in pigs. The environment was peaceful and conducive to focused reading. Additionally, I was fortunate to attend several necropsy sessions led by the professionals at the institute, which enriched my experience and understanding of the subject.
Overall, my time at TiHo was both productive and enlightening, allowing me to deepen my knowledge while enjoying the serene setting of Bakum.
Evelien Germeraad – PhD student WBVR, the Netherlands
Last summer I went to Montpellier thanks to an STSM from ESFLU (COST action European Swine Influenza Network). Oumaima and I, both PhD students, are working on a systematic review of vaccine efficacy for working group 3 ‘Foster knowledge exchange on surveillance and management measures to improve swIAV control’. We started this systematic review in 2023.
During the STSM, we worked side by side for a week at Anses. We were able to discuss some final data collection issues and were able to finalize the data collection. In addition, we made plans for the meta-analysis and worked on the layout of the article under Andrea’s supervision and online via the other members.
It was really helpful that we were able to work together live, thanks to the STSM funding! We made a lot of progress that week. At the moment we are still working on the analysis. It is a lot of work, because we found so much relevant data. The results of the analysis are interesting and we want to finish the review by the end of the year.
Marianne, PhD student in University of Copenhagen, Denmark
This October, I had the great opportunity to participate in a Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM) at the diagnostic laboratory at IZSLER (Instituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna) in Parma, Italy, under the guidance of Dr. Chiara Chiapponi. The institute conducts both animal necropsies and different diagnostics of samples.
During this STSM, I worked closely with laboratory technicians and veterinarians, gaining experience in influenza diagnostics. Observing their daily workflows allowed me to learn new diagnostic methods and deepen my expertise in laboratory practices.
Parma, located in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, is known for its rich food culture, especially parmesan cheese and prosciutto. Outside the lab, I enjoyed the opportunity to explore this local cuisine, discovering new flavors and dishes each day.
This experience broadened my skills in diagnostic science while providing a unique cultural immersion. I am truly grateful for the insights gained and the professional connections gained during my time at IZSLER.
