A5017097300- Marine animal studies overview
- Marine and fisheries research
- Arctic and Antarctic ice dynamics
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Ocean Acidification Effects and Responses
- Maritime Navigation and Safety
- Vector-Borne Animal Diseases
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Coastal and Marine Management
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Toxoplasma gondii Research Studies
- Salmonella and Campylobacter epidemiology
- Marine Toxins and Detection Methods
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Virus-based gene therapy research
- Indigenous Studies and Ecology
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
University of California, Davis
2011-2025
Sea Education Association
2016-2024
UC Davis Health System
2019
Cascadia Research Collective
2019
NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Southwest Fisheries Science Center
2019
The Wildlife Society
2016
National Wildlife Health Center
2002-2013
University of Georgia
2002-2006
Southeastern Health
2002
Significance Sea stars inhabiting the Northeast Pacific Coast have recently experienced an extensive outbreak of wasting disease, leading to their degradation and disappearance from many coastal areas. In this paper, we present evidence that cause disease is transmissible disease-affected animals apparently healthy individuals, disease-causing agent a virus-sized microorganism, best candidate viral taxon, sea star-associated densovirus (SSaDV), in greater abundance diseased than stars.
The sunflower sea star, P. helianthoides , has collapsed across most of its range, in both shallow and deep waters.
Sea star wasting disease devastated intertidal sea populations from Mexico to Alaska between 2013-15, but little detail is known about its impacts subtidal species. We assessed the of in Salish Sea, a Canadian / United States transboundary marine ecosystem, and world-wide hotspot for temperate asteroid species diversity with high degree endemism. analyzed roving diver survey data three most common collected by trained volunteer scuba divers 2006-15 5 basins on outer coast Washington, as well...
Abstract Wildlife species and populations are being driven toward extinction by a combination of historic emerging stressors (e.g., overexploitation, habitat loss, contaminants, climate change), suggesting that we in the midst planet’s sixth mass extinction. The invisible loss biodiversity before have been identified described scientific literature has termed, memorably, dark critically endangered Southern Resident killer whale ( Orcinus orca ) population illustrates its contrast, which term...
In the Florida Panhandle region, bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) have been highly susceptible to large-scale unusual mortality events (UMEs) that may result of exposure blooms dinoflagellate Karenia brevis and its neurotoxin, brevetoxin (PbTx). Between 1999 2006, three dolphin UMEs occurred in region. The primary objective this study was determine if these were due brevetoxicosis. Analysis over 850 samples from 105 associated prey items analyzed for algal toxins provided details on...
Seagrass meadows form ecologically and economically valuable coastal habitat on every continental margin except the Antarctic, but their areal extent is declining by approximately 2–5 % per year. wasting disease a contributing factor in these declines, with protist Labyrinthula identified as etiologic agent. To help elucidate role of spp. global seagrass we surveyed roughly one fourth all species to identify diversity at strain and/or level, combining results from culturing methods two...
Respiratory rate (mean number of breaths per minute) and respiratory interval time between breaths) can offer insight into a diving mammal's activity state, metabolic rate, behavior, synchronization due to social cohesion. Also, reflect an individual animal's health has the potential be informative remotely assessed metric for monitoring animal in endangered whale species populations such as southern resident killer whales (Orcinus orca). Using data collected from noninvasive, land-based...
In 1994 a novel Brucella sp., later named B. pinnipedialis, was identified in stranded harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). This sp. is potential zoonotic pathogen and capable of causing disease domestic animals. Serologic, microbiologic, pathologic data collected from live captured were used to better describe the epizootiology pinnipedialis Washington State, USA, through 2006. We found no sex predilection seal exposure or infection with but noted significant difference prevalence among age...
Understanding health and mortality in killer whales ( Orcinus orca ) is crucial for management conservation actions. We reviewed pathology reports from 53 animals that stranded the eastern Pacific Ocean Hawaii between 2004 2013 used data 35 2001 to 2017 assess association with morphometrics, blubber thickness, body condition cause of death. Of cases, death was determined 22 (42%) nine additional demonstrated findings significant importance population health. Causes calf mortalities included...
Efforts are underway to restore the Salish Sea, a 16,925 km2 inland sea shared by Washington State, USA, and British Columbia, Canada. A list of birds mammals that use this marine ecosystem is lacking. We compiled information from varied sources identified 172 bird 37 mammal species depend on Sea ecosystem. Of these species, 72 29 both highly dependent intertidal or habitat as well derived food. One hundred 8 have varying degrees dependence terrestrial ecosystems meet significant life...
Differences in innate disease resistance at the sub-species level have major implications for wildlife management. Two subspecies of white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus borealis and O. texanus were infected with epizootic hemorrhagic (EHD) viruses. These viruses are highly virulent pathogens deer endemic within range but not borealis. experimental infections performed. Five fawns five 107.1 median tissue culture infective doses (TCID50) EHD virus, serotype 1 each TCID50 2. Infections...
Like other coastal zones around the world, inland sea ecosystem of Washington (USA) and British Columbia (Canada), an area known as Salish Sea, is changing under pressure from a growing human population, conversion native forest shoreline habitat to urban development, toxic contamination sediments species, overharvest resources. While billions dollars have been spent trying restore ecosystems there still no successful model for restoring estuarine or marine like Sea. Despite lack guiding...
Feces of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardsi) and hybrid glaucous-winged/western gulls (Larus glaucescens / occidentalis) from Washington State's inland marine waters were examined for Giardia Cryptosporidium spp. to determine if genotypes carried by these wildlife species the same that commonly infect humans domestic animals. Using immunomagnetic separation followed direct fluorescent antibody detection, cysts detected in 42% seal fecal samples (41/97). Giardia-positive came 90% sites...
A viral etiology of sea star wasting syndrome (SSWS) was originally explored with virus-sized material challenge experiments, field surveys, and metagenomics, leading to the conclusion that a densovirus is predominant DNA virus associated this and, thus, most promising candidate pathogen. Single-stranded viruses are, however, highly diverse pervasive among eukaryotic organisms, which we hypothesize may confound association between densoviruses SSWS. To test hypothesis assess SSWS, compiled...
Primary fungal diseases in marine mammals are rare. Mucormycosis, a disease caused by fungi of the order Mucorales, has been documented few cetaceans and pinnipeds. In 2012, first case mucormycosis Pacific Northwest was dead stranded harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) Washington state. Since then, detected total 21 mammals; fifteen porpoises, five seals (Phoca vitulina), one southern resident killer whale (Orcinus orca). Infected animals were predominately found inland waters British...
An outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus, serotype 2 (EHDV-2) was responsible for localized white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) mortality in Hardy and Hampshire counties, West Virginia (USA), the summer fall 1993. Using available historical data on regional herd immunity, opportunistically collected during epizootic, postepizootic sampling hunter-harvested deer, we grossly estimate certain epidemiologic parameters compare findings to a hypothesis about outbreaks Appalachian...
Avian vacuolar myelinopathy (AVM) is a neurologic disease of unknown etiology that affects bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), American coots (Fulica americana), and several species waterfowl. An unidentified neurotoxin suspected as the cause AVM, which has been documented at reservoirs in southeastern United States. We conducted diagnostic epidemiologic studies annually during October-March from 1998-2004 Clarks Hill/Strom Thurmond Lake on Georgia/South Carolina border to better...
Raccoons (Procyonis lotor) and opossums (Didelphis virginianus) acquired from six contiguous counties in the Piedmont physiographic region of Georgia were investigated for their potential role epidemiology ehrlichial anaplasmal species. Serum was tested by indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) assay presence antibodies reactive to Ehrlichia chaffeensis, E. canis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum (HGA agent). Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) used test whole blood or white cell preparations spp....
Abstract Identifying drivers of ecosystem change in large marine ecosystems is central for their effective management and conservation. This a sizable challenge, particularly transcending international borders, where monitoring conservation long‐range migratory species habitats are logistically financially problematic. Here, using tools borrowed from epidemiology, we elucidated common underlying declines within ecosystem, much the way epidemiological analyses evaluate risk factors negative...
The harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardii) population in the Salish Sea has been at equilibrium since mid-1990s. This stable of marine mammals resides relatively close to shore near a large human and offers novel opportunity evaluate whether disease acts density-dependent manner limit growth. We conducted retrospective analysis stranding necropsy findings San Juan Islands sub-population assess age-related trends causes mortality. Between January 1, 2002 December 31, 2018, we detected 882...
Viruses in the epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) serogroup are most frequent cause of southeastern United States, but nothing is known about cross-protection between two EHD serotypes (EHDV-1 and EHDV-2) present this region. We experimentally tested whether deer surviving EHDV-2 infection would be protected against subsequent with EHDV-1, used field data to examine possibility reciprocal cross-protection. Eleven white-tailed fawns (Odocoileus virginianus) were infected later challenged...
Paratuberculosis was diagnosed in an endangered Key deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium) November 1996. Between 10 April 1997 and 28 September 2000, the population monitored for infection with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis by necropsy of available carcasses (n = 170), fecal cultures, serology. One additional clinically affected discovered July 1998, M. cultured from feces one live, asymptomatic deer. The results this study provided sufficient evidence to consider herd infected...
Bacterial cultures collected over 12 yr from stranded harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) pups and weanlings located in the North Puget Sound San Juan Islands region of Washington were analyzed retrospectively to determine most common pathogenic isolates describe their antimicrobial resistance patterns. Culture attempts (n = 58) wounds, umbilici, ears, conjunctiva, nares, oral lesions, feces yielded 134 that represented 17 genera. The majority Gram-negative 87; 65%) tested susceptible amikacin 76;...
The investigation of diseases free-ranging river otters (Lontra canadensis) is a primary conservation priority for this species; however, very little known about that forage in marine environments. To identify and better understand pathogens could be important to marine-foraging otters, other wildlife species, domestic animals, humans determine if proximity human population factor disease exposure, serum samples from 55 were tested antibodies selected pathogens. Thirty-five animals captured...