LABORATORY OF
RAVINDER SEHGAL,
PHD
Research Interest
We Study Avian Disease Ecology
My research program explores the biology of avian blood parasites, organisms that affect birds across the globe. Our work brings together molecular parasitology, ecology, evolution, and conservation genetics to understand how these parasites spread and how they impact bird populations.
In collaboration with colleagues at the Center for Tropical Research (UCLA), the Nature Research Centre in Lithuania, and the University of Buea in Cameroon, we study how deforestation and habitat change influence the spread of infectious diseases in African rainforest birds. Over the past 20 years, we have collected blood samples from more than 200 bird species across Cameroon, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Uganda. These studies reveal that some parasites are highly host-specific, while others infect a wide range of birds.
Recently, we have also begun investigating “Matryoshka viruses,” which infect the avian malaria parasites themselves. This exciting work is opening a new field of study into the complex relationships among viruses, parasites, and their bird hosts.
Our research extends beyond Africa to include California hummingbirds, songbirds, and raptors, giving us a broader perspective on how parasites circulate across ecosystems. A central part of our mission is training students and scientists both in the U.S. and internationally to carry this research forward.