Wild bird biobank

The ErasmusMC hosts a biobank that consists of data and samples resulting from two lines of research in wild bird monitoring conducted by the Erasmus Medical Center and the Dutch Centre for Avian Migration: bird flu with a focus on waterbirds (1999-current), and arboviruses with a focus on songbirds (2016-current). The biobank contains samples of birds infected with viruses as well as negative samples (serum, swabs, feathers), and ticks found on birds.  

Research topics 

One Health; viruses; birds; bird flu; arboviruses; songbirds; waterbirds; blood samples; bird monitoring; avian influenza 

References 

Poen, M. J., Bestebroer, T. M., Vuong, O., Scheuer, R. D., van der Jeugd, H. P., Kleyheeg, E., Eggink, D., Lexmond, P., van den Brand, J. M. A., Begeman, L., van der Vliet, S., Müskens, G. J. D. M., Majoor, F. A., Koopmans, M. P. G., Kuiken, T., & Fouchier, R. A. M. (2018). Local amplification of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N8 viruses in wild birds in the Netherlands, 2016 to 2017. Eurosurveillance, 23(4), 17-00449. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2018.23.4.17-00449  

Münger, E., Atama, N., van Irsel, J., Blom, R., Krol, L., van den Berg, T. J., Braks, M., de Vries, A., van der Linden, A., Chestakova, I., Boter, M., Chandler, F. D., Kohl, R., Nieuwenhuijse, D. F., Uiterwijk, M., Fouchier, R. A. M., Sprong, H., Gröne, A., Koenraadt, C. J. M., …, Koopmans, M. P. G. (2024). Emergence and Dynamics of Usutu and West Nile Viruses in the Netherlands, 2016-2022. bioRxiv, 2024.12.16.628479. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.12.16.628479  

Sikkema, R. S., Schrama, M., van den Berg, T., Morren, J., Munger, E., Krol, L., van der Beek, J. G., Blom, R., Chestakova, I., van der Linden, A., Boter, M., van Mastrigt, T., Molenkamp, R., Koenraadt, C. J. M., van den Brand, J. M. A, Oude Munnink, B. B., Koopmans, M. P. G., van der Jeugd, H. (2020). Detection of West Nile virus in a common whitethroat (Curruca communis) and Culex mosquitoes in the Netherlands. Euro Surveillance, 25(40), 2001704. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.40.2001704  

Running period 

1999-undetermined 

Equipment/facilities 

Biobank, containing: 

• Virus-positive wild bird samples (serum, swabs, feathers) 
• Virus-negative wild bird samples (serum, swabs, feathers) 
• Ticks found on wild birds 

Data management 

FAIR; data on bird species, location, age available 

Available datasets 

Part of the samples can be consulted at https://www.pathogensportal.nl.  

Condition for access 

Access is given after agreement on goals and research questions. Samples can be shared after signing a material transfer agreement (MTA).