Avian avian paramyxoviruses (APMVs) infect a great variety of wild and domestic birds worldwide with high mortality and morbidity rates. Virulence also depends on host species. Defining the role of wild birds in the transmission of avian viral diseases between different geographic regions is a key unanswered question in the study of avian epizootic disease.

Virulent isolates of Avian orthoavulavirus 1 (AOAV-1) cause contagious and often fatal diseases in domestic birds.  Infected birds spread disease when moving between lofts and may shed the virus. Based on pathogenicity in chickens AOAV-1 strains group under four major pathotypes: velogenic, mesogenic, lentogenic and asymptomatic. Studies showed that wild birds are potentially capable of transmitting and spreading precursors of AOAV-1 strains to domestic poultry.

Georgia is considered free of AOAV-1. There is limited information about the prevalence of APMVs in wild birds in Georgia and the Middle East. Effective control of diseases caused by APMVs is dependent on specific diagnostic testing, which is typically oriented towards detection, genotyping, or prediction of virulence.

Three major bird migration flyways (Central Asian, the East Africa/West Asia, and the Black Sea/Mediterranean) intersect in Georgia and vast amount of birds are observed to nest, overwinter and migrate on the territories of Georgia. Therefore, virus can potentially be spread to the region. This increases the value of surveillance of AOAV-1.

Sampling of different wild birds species’ will be carried out throughout the three years according to seasonal fluctuation of bird density. Samples will be collected from the Black Sea coastline, Javakheti lakes and Kvemo Kartli, Jandari lake area.

APMVs positives will be identified with RT-PCR assays, and will be sequenced for viral strains/species identification. Sequences date of isolation, host species, cleavage site, and phylogenetic lineage will be studied. 
The characterization of AOAV-1 field isolates from Georgian wild birds help better understand evolution and genetic characteristics of circulating strains. Identifying the wild host (reservoir) species will give a clear idea about virus circulation and transmission roots in Georgia and the risk of incursion into poultry. Results derived from this study will allow stakeholders to predict the pathogenesis, minimize threat of spread of undetected strains in the poultry and avoid economic losses.