Emerging Wildlife Diseases
Emerging Wildlife Diseases
The effects of emerging wildlife diseases are global and profound, often resulting in the loss of human lives, economic and agricultural impacts, declines in wildlife populations, and ecological disturbance. The USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) works to safeguard our Nation’s wildlife from diseases by studying the causes and drivers of these threats and by developing strategies to prevent and manage them.
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White-nose syndrome diagnostic harmonization
The USGS National Wildlife Health Center, in partnership with the White-nose Syndrome (WNS) National Response Team Diagnostic Working Group, has developed the White-Nose Syndrome Diagnostic Laboratory Network Handbook to harmonize WNS diagnostics.
SARS-CoV-2 in Wildlife
As SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 in humans, continues to spread globally, questions have emerged about the potential for humans to transmit the virus to North American wildlife, its potential effects on native wildlife populations, and the resultant possibility and consequences of establishing a persistent wildlife reservoir. Recent studies have detected SARS-CoV-2 in escaped or wild...
Native Freshwater Mussel Health
Native freshwater mussels are a keystone species and are considered both ecosystem engineers, improving habitat for other species, and indicator species important in assessing the health of the ecosystem.
Algal Toxins and Wildlife Health
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) have the potential to harm fish and wildlife, domestic animals, livestock, and humans through toxin production or ecological disturbances such as oxygen depletion and blockage of sunlight.
Chronic Wasting Disease
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging infectious disease that is fatal to free-ranging and captive animals in Cervidae, the deer family. CWD is one member of a family of diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), and is thought to be caused by prions. CWD is the only TSE known to affect free-ranging wildlife.
Avian Influenza
Avian influenza is a viral disease caused by various strains of avian influenza viruses that can be classified as low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) or highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). It remains a global disease with potential high consequence with the potential to threaten wildlife, agriculture, and human health.
Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal)
Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans ( Bsal ) is an emerging pathogen capable of causing significant morbidity and mortality in salamanders.
Marine Invertebrate Diseases
Coral reefs worldwide are under tremendous stress primarily due to human activities along the coasts. While climate change, over fishing, and coastal development have been implicated as a major cause of coral reef decline, diseases seem to play an increasing role.
Sea Turtle Diseases
Sea turtles are one of the oldest groups of reptiles and are found worldwide. There are seven species of sea turtles in the world, and Hawaii has two of them, the hawksbill and the far more numerous green turtle. Threats to turtles include by-catch from fisheries activity, over harvesting of eggs on nesting beaches, and disease. Of the latter, the most significant disease of sea turtles is called...
Snake Fungal Disease
Snake fungal disease is an infectious disease confirmed in numerous species of snakes caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophidiicola .
Sylvatic Plague
Sylvatic plague, caused by Yersinia pestis , is a bacterial disease transmitted by fleas that afflicts many mammalian species, including humans.
White-Nose Syndrome
White-nose syndrome (WNS) is an emergent disease of hibernating bats that has spread from the northeastern across United States at an alarming rate.