West Nile virus study conducted in Millersville
At most of the places where they research the West Nile virus, Ryan Peters and his two fellow field technicians work by themselves, collecting and analyzing birds. But when they showed up at a site in the Shipley's Choice community in Millersville, one of 16 locations, they were greeted by some unexpected assistants. During one of the first days they conducted their research last year, the neighborhood children gathered around to help out - and learn from - the researchers. "Millersville's kind of a special site," said Marm Kilpatrick, an assistant professor at the University of California - Santa Cruz who is leading the study, which examines how West Nile spreads in urban, suburban, rural and park-like areas. "They just ask questions, which is kind of neat," Mr. Peters said. "They keep us on our toes." Dr. Kilpatrick strung several large nets across neighborhood backyards to capture birds. The researchers then document the birds' sex and body fat amount and draw blood before releasing them. The team of researchers then test the blood for antibodies that would indicate they had survived having West Nile. Along with other data, the information should give the researchers a better picture of how the disease spreads from mosquitoes to birds to humans and other animals and circulates in certain areas, Dr. Kilpatrick said. "How does it affect the disease? That's the underlying question," he said. The researchers and the large nets easily attracted the curious children. They have 16 locations for research, including at the Mall in Washington, D.C., and state parks. Researchers come to the Shipley's Choice community for about two days each month from May to October - the time period when mosquitoes are active. Last week, three kids followed one of the field technicians as they rounded up the birds that had been caught by the nets set up in the backyards of neighbors. "Hello, little robin," said Gracie Logan, 11, as she walked up to one such bird. "Oh, it's a catbird," she corrected herself. "For a second, I thought it was a robin." Gracie, Dr. Kilpatrick said, is one of the more dedicated budding orthinologists. "She's a diehard," he said. "It's been a collaborative effort between the scientists and the kids," said Gracie's mother, Jill Logan. Dr. Kilpatrick hoped the exposure to the research could cause some of the kids to work in environmental or scientific fields. "The more meaningful part for the kid is being up close to nature like that," he said. |
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