YSU PhD student to study migratory bird parasites at University of Ostrava to help prevent disease spread

In wildlife, diseases are primarily transmitted by birds; therefore, studying the parasites present in birds is of great importance in parasitology. Research on this matter shall be conducted by Manan Asikyan, a PhD student in the Faculty of Biology at Yerevan State University, who will study trypanosomatid (unicellular) parasites found in migratory birds at the University of Ostrava in Czechia.

The scientific project submitted by Manan Asikyan, titled "Morphological and Molecular-Genetic Studies of Avian Trypanosomes", has received funding based on the results of the "Professional Training-2025" competition announced by the Armenian Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports.

"Trypanosomes are unicellular parasites that can cause serious diseases in both humans and animals—for example, African sleeping sickness. Migratory birds, which are the focus of my research, do not face geographical barriers. They are also warm-blooded animals, a factor that provides favorable conditions for parasites. These two conditions make birds ideal hosts for transporting parasites and spreading parasite-borne diseases," Manan Asikyan explains as she presents her project.

From August to mid-October 2026, the PhD student will study trypanosomatid parasites found in migratory birds at the University of Ostrava, using modern morphological and molecular-genetic methods. According to her, trypanosomes remain very poorly studied worldwide.

"I am going to detect trypanosomatid parasites in the blood of birds, determine their species, and then identify the diseases that birds may carry and transmit. It will be clarified which diseases birds transmit among themselves, and which of those diseases can potentially be passed on to mammals and humans," she emphasized.

Manan Asikyan notes that, considering Armenia's geographical position and biodiversity, she will have the opportunity to identify new or already known parasites, analyze their distribution, evolutionary relationships, and specificity to host species.

Since her undergraduate years, Manan has studied various types of parasites detected in birds of prey, nesting birds, and migratory species—parasites that are causative agents of diseases such as toxoplasmosis, malaria, and others.

"The study of trypanosomatid parasites differs from the research I have previously conducted, as both the sampling and processing of specimens collected during fieldwork are different. This is an entirely new methodology that I must learn, starting from field sample collection," says the PhD student from the Chair of Zoology at the Faculty of Biology, adding that she will conduct analyses of the collected samples in the University of Ostrava's laboratory specializing in the biology of trypanosomes, using all available research methods.

Manan Asikyan is convinced that the results of the study will serve as a basis for timely prevention of emerging diseases and the spread of infections.