A5082235914- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Microbial infections and disease research
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Venomous Animal Envenomation and Studies
- Veterinary Pharmacology and Anesthesia
- Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments
- Antibiotics Pharmacokinetics and Efficacy
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Veterinary Equine Medical Research
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Nail Diseases and Treatments
- Veterinary Medicine and Surgery
- Animal Nutrition and Physiology
- Virus-based gene therapy research
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Infectious Diseases and Mycology
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
Chicago Zoological Society
2017-2025
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
2016-2025
Illinois College
2006-2025
Urbana University
2016-2025
Lake County Forest Preserves
2024
University of Illinois Chicago
2021-2024
University of Wisconsin–Madison
2022
University of Veterinary Medicine
2007-2021
Illinois Archaeological Survey
2013-2021
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
2017-2021
Abstract Objective To develop and validate a quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay for detecting Macrorhabdus ornithogaster (MO) reproducibly culture MO from infected budgerigars ( Melopsittacus undulatus ). Methods A TaqMan qPCR targeting 94-bp segment of 18S rRNA was evaluated limit detection, dynamic range, intra-assay variability, interassay efficiency. Proventricular-ventricular samples feces deceased positive on cytology were plated with Basal Medium Eagle or chicken serum media, 20% fetal...
Ranaviruses (genus Ranavirus) have been observed in disease epidemics and mass mortality events free-ranging amphibian, turtle, tortoise populations worldwide. Infection is highly fatal turtles, the potential impact on endangered could be devastating. Our objectives were to determine prevalence of ranavirus DNA blood oral swabs, report associated clinical signs infection, spatial distribution infected turtles. Blood swabs taken from 140 eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) that...
Snake fungal disease (SFD) is a clinical syndrome associated with dermatitis, myositis, osteomyelitis, and pneumonia in several species of free-ranging snakes the US. The causative agent has been suggested as Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, but other agents may contribute to pathogenesis not understood. To understand role O. ophiodiicola SFD, cottonmouth snake model SFD was designed. Five cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorous) were experimentally challenged by nasolabial pit inoculation pure...
Fungal pathogens threatening the conservation of wildlife are becoming increasingly common. Since 2008, free-ranging snakes across North America have been experiencing a marked increase in prevalence snake fungal disease associated with Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola. Diagnosis has historically relied on histology, microbiology, and conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). More sensitive methods needed to adequately characterize epidemiology. The current study describes development real-time...
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has a worldwide distribution in humans and many other mammalian species. In late September 2021, 12 animals maintained by the Chicago Zoological Society's Brookfield Zoo were observed with variable clinical signs. The Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 was detected faeces nasal swabs qRT-PCR, including first detection from families Procyonidae Viverridae. Test positivity rate 12.5% for 35 tested. All had been vaccinated at least one dose...
A free-ranging adult female eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) was presented to the University of Tennessee in October 2003 because suspected trauma and blindness. Physical examination revealed lethargy, clear ocular nasal discharges, white oral laryngeal plaques. Intracytoplasmic inclusions within heterophils large mononuclear leukocytes were observed on routine blood smear examination. Postmortem findings included necrosis epithelial parenchymal cells with intracytoplasmic...
To determine the characteristics of, prevalence and risk factors for corneal pigmentation (CP) in Pugs.Prospective cross-sectional study.295 Pugs > 16 weeks old.Ophthalmic examination of anterior segment each eye was performed, including determination tear film (Schirmer test breakup time) sensitivity. Digital photographs head were obtained. Corneal eyes graded as absent, very mild, moderate, or severe. Signalment medical history information American Kennel Club registration status recorded....
Frog virus 3 (FV3) and FV3-like viruses are members of the genus Ranavirus (family Iridoviridae) becoming recognized as significant pathogens eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) in North America. In July 2011, 5 from a group 27 Maryland, USA, presented dead or lethargic with what was later diagnosed fibrinonecrotic stomatitis cloacitis. The presence herpesvirus detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tested index cases. remaining 22 animals were isolated, segregated...
ABSTRACT Pathogenic fungi have become a global concern to wildlife populations over the last 2 decades. However, threat of snake fungal disease (SFD; caused by Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola ) is still largely unknown. From 2014–2016, we monitored 3 disjunct federally threated eastern massasauga ( Sistrurus catenatus in Michigan, USA. We used clinical signs SFD, quantitative TaqMan polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), repeated sampling individuals and sites, single‐season occupancy models estimate...
Snake Fungal Disease (SFD), caused by Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, is the most recently described fungal disease afflicting wildlife populations across North America and Europe. It has been proposed as a significant conservation threat yielding high mortality yet much its ecology unknown. We collected 144 skin swabs from Eastern Massasaugas (Sistrurus catenatus) in 2015 2016 to determine document ongoing prevalence assess differences microbial assemblages between positive negative individuals....
Wildlife mortality investigations are important for conservation, food safety, and public health; but they infrequently reported cryptic chelonian species. Eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) declining due to anthropogenic factors disease, while have been captive translocated individuals, few descriptions exist free-living populations. We report the results of four natural event conducted during routine health surveillance three Illinois turtle populations in 2011, 2013, 2014,...
The fungal order Onygenales includes many pathogens of humans and animals, recent studies have shown some onygenalean fungi to be significant emerging reptiles. Although these similar morphological features in histologic tissue sections, molecular analyses revealed a genetically complex diverse group reptile comprising several genera, most notably Nannizziopsis, Ophidiomyces, Paranannizziopsis Infections by members genera been previously reported variety species, including crocodilians,...
A free-ranging plains garter snake (Thamnophis radix) with a brown, encrusted, cutaneous facial lesion presented depressed, emaciated, and dehydrated. It developed respiratory distress was later euthanized after it failed to respond antibiotics supportive treatment. Disseminated granulomatous disease prominent lung involvement diagnosed at necropsy. Intralesional hyaline fungal elements, consisting of septate hyphae, were detected histologically among the necrotic core granulomas aggregates...
Conservation efforts are investigating the impact of diseases within a species interest, including prevalence and transmission morbidity mortality rates. However, majority these studies focus solely on characteristics single pathogen. Recently, role copathogens has been reported to disease susceptibility mortality. To that effect, survey was conducted 318 eastern box turtles ( Terrapene carolina carolina) from populations in Illinois Tennessee 2014 2015. Blood samples oral swabs were...
A newly described onygenalean fungus, Emydomyces testavorans, has been isolated from ulcerative shell and skin lesions of freshwater aquatic chelonians. To investigate the associated with infection determine if any lesional features were unique to E. tissues turtles housed in zoological institutions ( n = 45) United States free-living 5) submitted for diagnostic biopsy or necropsy examined. Free-living geographically distinct habitats Florida 1) Washington 4) at time sampling. Histologic...
During the 2004 field season, blood was collected from Eastern massasauga rattlesnakes (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) in Carlyle Lake (Carlyle, Illinois, USA) and Allerton Park (Monticello, populations to derive baseline complete count plasma biochemistry data assess prevalence of antibodies West Nile virus (WNV) ophidian paramyxovirus (OPMV). Massasaugas were located for sampling through visual encounter surveys. Body weight, snout-vent length, total protein, globulins, sodium, potassium...
With the current rate of declines in global biodiversity, it is apparent that wildlife diseases are serving as additional threats to population and potentially species extinctions. Free-ranging Eastern Massasaugas (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) have been reported susceptible numerous health threats, one which a fatal fungal dermatitis. In response occurrence dermatitis, survey disease investigation was conducted on near Carlyle, Illinois 2011. We captured 38 from March April Polymerase...