Diagnosis of Diseases and Identification of Infectious Agents that Affect Antarctic Birds. Project No. 48 2002-2004

Little is known about bird diseases in Antarctica with a few notable
exceptions. The recent discoveries of certain diseases in Antarctica have
created concern for the future of Antarctic wildlife. Introduced microorganisms
may have severe negative consequences for inmunologically native wildlife and
novel epidemics may be especially disastrous for rare or endangered species.
The study of the diseases which affect Antarctic migratory birds has been an
area of great interest for numerous scientists. The possibility of
introduction of several diseases on antarctic fauna is an important subject
considered by the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting. There has been an
increase in the movement of people to and within Antarctica; tourist and
expeditioner numbers have been increasing in recent years and air travel
quickly takes people, equipment and food to distant localities. These factors
directly contribute to an increase in the risk of importing an exotic organism
and or spreading of endemic disease.