Sample interview questions: Explain your familiarity with different methods used for assessing wildlife disease prevalence.
Sample answer:
1. Field Observations:
- Direct observations of wildlife behavior, physical appearance, and population dynamics can provide valuable insights into disease prevalence.
- Signs of disease may include changes in activity level, abnormal behaviors, lesions, and reduced reproductive success.
- Regular monitoring of wildlife populations can help detect disease outbreaks early and track their progression.
2. Serological Surveys:
- Serological surveys involve collecting blood samples from wildlife to detect the presence of antibodies against specific pathogens.
- Antibodies are produced by the immune system in response to infection, and their presence indicates that the animal has been exposed to the pathogen.
- Serological surveys can provide information about the prevalence of a disease in a population and identify individuals that have been infected.
3. Necropsy Examinations:
- Necropsy examinations involve examining the carcasses of dead animals to determine the cause of death.
- Gross pathology and histopathology techniques are used to identify lesions and tissue changes associated with disease.
- Necropsy examinations can provide valuable information about the distribution and severity of a disease in a population.
4. Molecular Diagnostics:
- Molecular diagnostics involve using molecular techniques, such as PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and DNA sequencing, to detect the presence of pathogens in wildlife.
- These techniques can identify specific pathogens, determine their genetic characteristics, and track the spread of diseases.
- Molecular diagnostics can be applied to various samples, including blood, … Read full answer