Lia Heremia

Urban waterfowl harbour geographically connected viral communities across Aotearoa New Zealand

The paper characterizes viral communities in urban waterfowl across New Zealand, finding widespread viral diversity and connectivity despite geographic distance.

Evaluating sampling strategies for the detection of avian influenza viruses in the environment

The paper evaluates four environmental RNA sampling methods for detecting avian influenza viruses in urban waterfowl ponds over a year, finding they detected AIV but with asynchronous results likely due to low viral concentrations.

Rapid GeneXpert surveillance of influenza A virus in seabirds and the environment provides early warning for wildlife health in Aotearoa New Zealand

This study evaluates the GeneXpert II platform for rapid influenza A virus detection in environmental and wildlife samples at a New Zealand seabird colony, demonstrating its feasibility for early warning surveillance.

Foraging ecology drives viral community structure in New Zealand's aquatic birds

This study identifies viral communities in New Zealand's aquatic birds, showing that foraging behavior influences viral diversity and reveals novel viruses and mammalian-associated pathogens.

Avian influenza virus surveillance across New Zealand and its subantarctic islands detects H1N9 in migratory shorebirds, but not 2.3.4.4b HPAI H5N1

The study sampled wild birds in New Zealand and its territories, finding no HPAI H5N1 but detecting H1N9 in red knots during 2023-2024 migration.