Abstract
Biological invasions can have major impacts on human, animal and environmental health, ranging from simple nuisances to the transmission of potentially fatal diseases, as well as altering mental well-being and food safety. Using a broad definition of epidemiology, this seminar will explore the links between biological invasions and health in three stages. Firstly, we will analyze how invasive alien species affect the health of individuals, populations and communities in invaded areas, through direct or indirect alterations of ecological dynamics and interactions. Secondly, we will focus on the role of micro-organisms - parasites and pathogens - in invasion processes, discussing the epidemiological and evolutionary mechanisms involved and their health consequences. Thirdly, we will illustrate these complex interactions using the emblematic example of invasive exotic rodents, which crystallize many of the health issues associated with biological invasions. The aim of this seminar is to show that biological invasions, well beyond their ecological effects, represent a major challenge for global health, at the interface of human, animal and environmental health, in the spirit of the " One Health" concept .
