The Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) was founded in 1968. The founders aimed to establish four principles of autonomy: freedom to select teaching staff, admission available to all students (but with a limited number), freedom to create its own study plans and freedom to administrate the University's capital. It is therefore a young university, but in its short history it has moved forward at a rapid pace. The Wildlife Diseases Research Group (SEFaS) belongs to UAB and was created to perform studies on wildlife conservation and health. We are a multidisciplinary team that integrates a group of veterinarians and ecologists from different areas. Since SEFaS was founded our trajectory has been supported by several governmental grants and agreements between private companies and local administrations. The quality of our studies is endorsed by a considerable number of publications and by our participation in the most recognised scientific meetings on wildlife ecology and diseases. We have described diseases in a wide range of wildlife species and discussed their role in wildlife conservation and management, and also their implications for domestic animal and human health.

http://sefas.uab.es

Spain coordinates APHAEA through IREC (www.uclm.es/irec) and collaborating researchers from Universidad Complutense and INIA. IREC is the leading Spanish research institute on wildlife diseases. The Wildlife Disease Department works on all aspects of wildlife epidemiology and disease control. This Department includes specialists in epidemiology and ecology, specifically including census methods and GIS applications. IREC has significant expertise in wild boar and red fox, and in viral diseases of swine, tuberculosis and parasitic and vector-borne diseases. IREC collaborates closely with the Ministry of Agriculture, regional governments and agencies in wildlife disease surveillance, including the recently approved Spanish Wildlife Disease Surveillance Plan. IREC also coordinates the RIEC network (Red de Investigación en Enfermedades Compartidas) on diseases shared with wildlife. Collaborating researchers from INIA have wide experience adapting sampling methods and diagnostic techniques for a broad range of pathogens affecting wildlife, especially those zoonotic ones related with synanthropic birds (pigeons and passerines).

Contact: christian.gortazar [a] uclm.es