Leigh Combrink
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Evaluating Associations Between Drought and West Nile Virus Epidemics: A Systematic Review Open
Human West Nile virus (WNV) infections can have severe neurological health effects, especially among those over 50 years of age. As changes in weather patterns lead to more frequent and intense droughts, there is a public health need for i…
Does schistosome infection affect behavior through the gut-brain axis? Open
Parasitic helminths infect over 2 billion people, primarily those living in poverty. Helminth infections typically establish in early childhood and persist through critical periods of growth and development, leading to cognitive deficits a…
The Alligator and the Mosquito: North American Crocodilians as Amplifiers of West Nile Virus in Changing Climates Open
In an age of emerging zoonoses, it is important to understand the intricate system of vectors and reservoirs, or hosts, and their relation to humans. West Nile Virus (WNV) has been detected in a myriad of nonhuman hosts. Transmission of th…
MICROBIOME: Microbiomes in birds: a review of links to health and reproduction Open
Microbiomes have emerged as a key component essential for maintaining the health of an organism. Additionally, the roles of microbiomes are multifaceted, some unique to specific body areas and organs while others, particularly the gut micr…
DNA virome composition of two sympatric wild felids, bobcat (Lynx rufus) and puma (Puma concolor) in Sonora, Mexico Open
With viruses often having devastating effects on wildlife population fitness and wild mammals serving as pathogen reservoirs for potentially zoonotic diseases, determining the viral diversity present in wild mammals is both a conservation …
Best practice for wildlife gut microbiome research: A comprehensive review of methodology for 16S rRNA gene investigations Open
Extensive research in well-studied animal models underscores the importance of commensal gastrointestinal (gut) microbes to animal physiology. Gut microbes have been shown to impact dietary digestion, mediate infection, and even modify beh…
Habitat preferences of Southern Ground-hornbills in the Kruger National Park: implications for future conservation measures Open
Understanding how a species utilises its habitat, and the processes that give rise to its movements and patterns of space use, is critical for its conservation. Southern Ground-hornbills Bucorvus leadbeateri are listed as Endangered in Sou…
Age of first infection across a range of parasite taxa in a wild mammalian population Open
Newborn mammals have an immature immune system that cannot sufficiently protect them against infectious diseases. However, variation in the effectiveness of maternal immunity against different parasites may couple with temporal trends in p…
Habitat structure and diversity influence the nesting success of an endangered large cavity-nesting bird, the Southern Ground-hornbill Open
Habitat features can have a profound effect on the nesting success of birds. Savannas are often managed with predators and large herbivores as priority species, with little thought to the many bird species that management decisions could a…
Re‐establishing the pecking order: Niche models reliably predict suitable habitats for the reintroduction of red‐billed oxpeckers Open
Distributions of avian mutualists are affected by changes in biotic interactions and environmental conditions driven directly/indirectly by human actions. The range contraction of red‐billed oxpeckers ( Buphagus erythrorhynchus ) in South …
The habitat, nesting and foraging requirements of southern ground-hornbills in the Kruger National Park. Open
Doctor of Philosophy in Ecological Sciences. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 2016.