A5049735480- Salmonella and Campylobacter epidemiology
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Escherichia coli research studies
- Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Effects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock
- Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research
- Prion Diseases and Protein Misfolding
- Enterobacteriaceae and Cronobacter Research
- Leptospirosis research and findings
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- Mycobacterium research and diagnosis
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Avian ecology and behavior
University of Minnesota
2025
Pennsylvania State University
2023-2024
Texas Tech University
2020-2024
University of Guelph
2015-2023
Ontario Veterinary College
2021-2022
University of Calgary
2019-2021
University of Regina
2008-2019
Sensitive and specific antemortem diagnostic tests are a prerequisite for effective management of chronic wasting disease (CWD). Paired with readily accessible samples that accurately reflect CWD status, the real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) assay has potential to enable more surveillance interventions. We evaluated feasibility RT-QuIC as test using 6-mm ear tissue biopsies from elk (Cervus canadensis). First, we effect spatial location on seeding activity. observed an punch...
Salmonella has been detected in the feces of many wildlife species, including raccoons (Procyon lotor), but little is known about epidemiology living different habitat types. Our objective was to investigate demographic, temporal, and climatic factors associated with carriage their environment on swine farms conservation areas. Using a repeated cross-sectional study design, we collected fecal samples from environmental (soil, manure pits, dumpsters) 5 areas Ontario, Canada once every five...
Group fission is an important dispersal mechanism for philopatric adults. In Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, Saskatchewan, tree-roosting big brown bats ( Eptesicus fuscus ) exhibit fission–fusion roosting behaviour. During 2004–2007, the majority of females previously resident to area 1 (RA1) moved a new (RA4). We examined how genetic relationships, inferred from data microsatellite loci and mitochondrial DNA, influenced roost (RA) selection during 2006 when colony members were split...
Boreal woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) are listed as threatened across Canada, and a basic understanding of their health status is lacking. From December 2012 to April 2013, we investigated multiple indices for adult female boreal (n=163) captured from seven herds in NE British Columbia, Canada. Health included physical characteristics, physiologic trace mineral status, exposure or infection with selected pathogens, measures chronic stress inflammation, including serum amyloid...
Antimicrobial resistance is a global threat to livestock, human and environmental health. Although resistant bacteria have been detected in wildlife, their role the epidemiology of antimicrobial not clear. Our objective was investigate demographic, temporal climatic factors associated with carriage Escherichia coli raccoons environment. We collected samples from raccoon paws feces soil, manure pit dumpsters on five swine farms conservation areas Ontario, Canada once every weeks May November,...
Abstract The abundance of Culex restuans and pipiens in relation to ecological predictors is poorly understood regions the United States where their ranges overlap. It suspected that these species play different roles spreading West Nile virus (WNV) regions, but few studies have modeled separately or accounted for spatial correlation using Bayesian methods. We used mosquito surveillance data collected by Pennsylvania Department Environmental Protection from 2002 2016 integrated nested...
The Lesser Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus; LEPC) is an iconic North American prairie grouse, renowned for ornate and spectacular breeding season displays. Unfortunately, the species has disappeared across much of its historical range, with corresponding precipitous declines in contemporary population abundance, largely due to climatic anthropogenic factors. These led a 2022 US Fish Wildlife decision identify list two distinct segments (DPSs; i.e., northern southern DPSs) as...
Abstract The role of free‐ranging wildlife in the epidemiology enteropathogens causing clinical illness humans and domestic animals is unclear. Salmonella enterica anti‐microbial resistant bacteria have been detected faeces raccoons ( Procyon lotor ), but little known about carriage these other sympatric meso‐mammals. Our objectives were to: (a) report prevalence associated resistance, Campylobacter spp, Clostridium difficile , Escherichia coli striped skunks Mephitis mephitis ) Virginia...
Summary Raccoons are common in urban and rural environments can carry a wide range of bacteria, including Salmonella , that negatively affect human livestock health. Although previous studies have reported raccoons shed variety serovars their faeces, it is unknown whether carried on raccoon paws. Our objective was to compare the prevalence paws faeces south‐western Ontario. were sampled repeat cross‐sectional study five swine farms conservation areas from May October 2012. A total 416 paired...
Abstract Population genomics can reveal cryptic biological diversity that may impact fitness while simultaneously serving to delineate relevant conservation units. Here, we leverage the power of whole-genome resequencing for by studying 433 individual lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus; LEPC, a federally endangered species concern in United States) and greater cupido; GRPC, legally huntable throughout much its range). The genomic two formally recognized distinct population...
ABSTRACT Understanding the ephemerality of trees used as roosts by wildlife, and number roost needed to sustain their populations, is important for forest management wildlife conservation. Several studies indicate that are limiting bats, but few have monitored longevity bats over several years. From 2004–2007 in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, Saskatchewan, Canada, big brown ( Eptesicus fuscus ) from a maternity group roosted cavities trembling aspen Populus tremuloides approximately 7...
Clostridium difficile is an important enteropathogen affecting humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. The objectives of this study were to 1) compare the prevalence characteristics C. isolated from feces raccoons trapped on swine farms conservation sites, 2) investigate role as potential reservoirs for host-adapted strains using a longitudinal study. Fecal swabs collected at 5 sites farms, once every five weeks, May November, 2012. was 9 % (38/444) samples, 12 (37/302) raccoons, all 10...
To better understand the contribution of wildlife to dissemination Salmonella and antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli , we examined whole-genome sequence data from E . isolates collected raccoons (Procyon lotor ) environmental sources on farms southern Ontario. All phenotypically resistant raccoons, soil, manure pits five swine as part a previous study were included. We assessed for evidence potential transmission these organisms between different utilizing combination population...
Free-ranging wildlife are increasingly recognized as potential reservoirs of disease-causing Campylobacter species such C. jejuni and coli. Raccoons (Procyon lotor), which live at the interface rural, urban, more natural environments, ideal subjects for exploring role that play in epidemiology campylobacteriosis. We studied prevalence genetic diversity from live-captured raccoons on five swine farms conservation areas southwest Ontario. From 2011 – 2013, we collected fecal swabs (n=1096)...
We observed Red-cockaded Woodpeckers (Picoides borealis) wedging longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) seeds into crevices in tree bark Polk County, Florida from October to December 2004. Five individuals, four uniquely color-banded and one unidentified individual, wedged ∼14 seeds. Initially, we thought the birds were caching Additional observations indicated being under ends of flaking pines so could be held firm opened for consumption. Anvil use, where items are subsequent manipulation, is...
Increasing reports of canine distemper virus (CDV) in a variety hosts, and changing CDV dynamics, have led to renewed interest the ecology infections wildlife. Longitudinal serologic studies provide insights into intrapopulation intraindividual pathogen but few wildlife been conducted. We used data from 235 raccoons (Procyon lotor) captured on more than one occasion between May 2011 November 2013 investigate dynamics Ontario, Canada. Using mixed multivariable logistic regression, we found...
ABSTRACT Although the amount of solar radiation received at roost sites used by bats has been speculated to be a factor driving roost‐site selection and switching behavior, few studies have scientifically quantified recorded it over time. We demonstrated through field test how silicon‐cell pyranometers, which are commonly connected dataloggers in atmospheric measure irradiance on planar surface, can also record relative levels trees other wildlife. Using commercially available pyranometers...
Non-typhoidal Salmonella infections represent a substantial burden of illness in humans, and the increasing prevalence antimicrobial resistance among these is growing concern. Using combination isolate short-read whole-genome sequence data from select human cases, raccoons, livestock environmental sources, an epidemiological framework, our objective was to determine if there evidence for potential transmission associated determinants between different sources Grand River watershed Ontario,...
From 11 to 15 October 2009, we observed Yellow-rumped Warblers (Setophaga coronata coranata) foraging inside an unheated barn on 4 d, and a heated modern milking parlor 2 d at dairy farm in southeastern Saskatchewan, Canada. fed dormant flies that were huddled the walls of sallied for mid-air gleaned them from window screens parlor. These observations preceded by unseasonable cold weather 9 10 October, when maximum temperatures below 0°C. indoors until after which days became warmer, only...
Abstract Campylobacter is a leading cause of foodborne illness in humans worldwide. Sources infection are often difficult to identify, and are, generally, poorly understood. Recent work suggests that wildlife may represent source for human infections. Using repeated cross‐sectional study design, raccoons were trapped on five swine farms conservation areas southern Ontario from 2011 2013. Our objectives to: (a) assess the impact seasonal, climatic, location, annual raccoon demographic factors...