Prof Carla
Mavian
Dr. Carla Mavian is an evolutionary virologist whose research focuses on the ecology and evolution of zoonotic pathogens at the animal-human interface. She has worked on a wide range of pathogens, from bacteria such as Vibrio cholerae to viruses including poxviruses, arboviruses and bat-borne viruses. Using a One Health framework, Dr. Mavian investigates the population dynamics, spatial dispersal, and spillover potential of emerging pathogens, with the goal of identifying ecological and environmental drivers that shape their transmission, particularly in ecosystems undergoing rapid climate and land-use change.
Her research spans wildlife, livestock, and environmental interfaces across multiple regions, including bats and livestock in Africa and wildlife in Kruger National Park, South Africa. At Stellenbosch University, she is expanding surveillance at wildlife–livestock–human interfaces, with a focus on under-reported but impactful pathogens such as Coxiella burnetii (Q fever) and Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) virus, which have major implications for public health, livestock health, and rural livelihoods in southern Africa. She is also interested in unveil the role of microbiome in regulating high- and low-pathogen shedding and its implications for zoonotic spillover.
Through genomic surveillance and evolutionary analyses, Dr. Mavian aims to strengthen the capacity to detect, understand, and mitigate pathogen emergence at the human–animal interface.