Identification of Novel Diseases
USGS research includes developing more rapid and sensitive methods for the detection and identification of pathogens and diagnosis of disease, improving understanding of the factors controlling disease, and developing new methods to control losses from infectious diseases.
Methods like next generation sequencing help USGS scientists detect new diseases. NGS is a powerful tool for studying new and emerging diseases because it can provide information about viruses and other pathogens that have not previously been described. Recently, the Alaska Science Center used next generation sequencing to investigate the hypothesis that a virus might be responsible for avian keratin disease (AKD). In 2016, they detected a novel picornavirus (Poecivirus) in beak tissues of Black-capped Chickadees with AKD (Zylberberg et al. 2016).
The USGS Diagnostic Virology Laboratory (DVL) at the National Wildlife Health Center performs isolation and identification of common and novel viruses from diagnostic and research samples. The Diagnostic Microbiology Laboratory (DML) routinely performs a variety of procedures to isolate and identify important pathogenic bacteria and fungi from wildlife.
Related
Introduction of Eurasian-origin H8N4 influenza A virus into North America via migratory birds
We identified a Eurasian-origin influenza A(H8N4) virus in North America by sampling wild birds in western Alaska, USA. Evidence for repeated introductions of influenza A viruses into North America by migratory birds suggests that intercontinental dispersal might not be exceedingly rare and that our understanding of viral establishment is incomplete.
Authors
Andrew M. Ramey, Andrew B. Reeves, Tyrone F. Donnelly, Rebecca L. Poulson, David E. Stallknecht
Avian keratin disorder of Alaska black-capped chickadees is associated with Poecivirus infection
BackgroundAvian keratin disorder (AKD) is an epizootic of debilitating beak deformities, first documented in black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) in Alaska during the late 1990s. Similar deformities have now been recorded in dozens of species of birds across multiple continents. Despite this, the etiology of AKD has remained elusive, making it difficult to assess the impacts of...
Authors
Maxine Zylberberg, Caroline R. Van Hemert, Colleen M. Handel, Joseph L. DeRisi
Characterization of Plasmodium relictum, a cosmopolitan agent of avian malaria
BackgroundMicroscopic research has shown that Plasmodium relictum is the most common agent of avian malaria. Recent molecular studies confirmed this conclusion and identified several mtDNA lineages, suggesting the existence of significant intra-species genetic variation or cryptic speciation. Most identified lineages have a broad range of hosts and geographical distribution. Here, a rare...
Authors
Gediminas Valkiunas, Mikas Ilgūnas, Dovilė Bukauskaitė, Karin Fragner, Herbert Weissenböck, Carter T. Atkinson, Tatjana Iezhova
Vectors, hosts, and control measures for Zika virus in the Americas
We examine Zika virus (ZIKV) from an ecological perspective and with a focus on the Americas. We assess (1) the role of wildlife in ZIKV disease ecology, (2) how mosquito behavior and biology influence disease dynamics, and (3) how nontarget species and ecosystems may be impacted by vector control programs. Our review suggests that free-ranging, non-human primates may be involved in ZIKV...
Authors
Sarah J. Thompson, John M. Pearce, Andrew M. Ramey
Early action to address an emerging wildlife disease
A deadly fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) that affects amphibian skin was discovered during a die-off of European fire salamanders (Salamandra salamandra) in 2014. This pathogen has the potential to worsen already severe worldwide amphibian declines. Bsal is a close relative to another fungal disease known as Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Many scientists...
Authors
M. J. Adams, M.Scott Harris, Daniel A. Grear
Maternal androgens in avian brood parasites and their hosts: responses to parasitism and competition?
In the coevolutionary dynamic of avian brood parasites and their hosts, maternal (or transgenerational) effects have rarely been investigated. We examined the potential role of elevated yolk testosterone in eggs of the principal brood parasite in North America, the brown-headed cowbird, and three of its frequent host species. Elevated maternal androgens in eggs are a common maternal...
Authors
Caldwell Hahn, John C. Wingfield, David M. Fox, Brian K. Walker, Jill E Thomley
Blood serum chemistry of wild Alaskan Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) with avian keratin disorder
We measured serum chemistries in wild Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) from Alaska to test for potential differences associated with beak deformities characteristic of avian keratin disorder. Lower uric acid in affected birds was the only difference detected between groups, although sample sizes were small. This difference could be associated with fasting or malnutrition in...
Authors
Caroline R. Van Hemert, Colleen M. Handel
Changes in the prevalence of avian disease and mosquito vectors at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge: a 14-year perspective and assessment of future risk
Throughout the main Hawaiian Islands, introduced mosquito-borne disease has had, and continues to have, a profound impact on the distributions and abundance of native Hawaiian forest birds. Populations of remaining native forest birds are largely restricted to high elevation forests where mean temperatures are marginal for vector and parasite development and limited availability of...
Authors
Dennis Lapointe, Jacqueline M. Gaudioso-Levita, Carter T. Atkinson, Ariel N. Egan, Kathleen Hayes
Novel picornavirus associated with avian keratin disorder in Alaskan birds
Avian keratin disorder (AKD), characterized by debilitating overgrowth of the avian beak, was first documented in black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) in Alaska. Subsequently, similar deformities have appeared in numerous species across continents. Despite the widespread distribution of this emerging pathology, the cause of AKD remains elusive. As a result, it is unknown...
Authors
Maxine Zylberberg, Caroline R. Van Hemert, John P. Dumbacher, Colleen M. Handel, Tarik Tihan, Joseph L. DeRisi
Related
Introduction of Eurasian-origin H8N4 influenza A virus into North America via migratory birds
We identified a Eurasian-origin influenza A(H8N4) virus in North America by sampling wild birds in western Alaska, USA. Evidence for repeated introductions of influenza A viruses into North America by migratory birds suggests that intercontinental dispersal might not be exceedingly rare and that our understanding of viral establishment is incomplete.
Authors
Andrew M. Ramey, Andrew B. Reeves, Tyrone F. Donnelly, Rebecca L. Poulson, David E. Stallknecht
Avian keratin disorder of Alaska black-capped chickadees is associated with Poecivirus infection
BackgroundAvian keratin disorder (AKD) is an epizootic of debilitating beak deformities, first documented in black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) in Alaska during the late 1990s. Similar deformities have now been recorded in dozens of species of birds across multiple continents. Despite this, the etiology of AKD has remained elusive, making it difficult to assess the impacts of...
Authors
Maxine Zylberberg, Caroline R. Van Hemert, Colleen M. Handel, Joseph L. DeRisi
Characterization of Plasmodium relictum, a cosmopolitan agent of avian malaria
BackgroundMicroscopic research has shown that Plasmodium relictum is the most common agent of avian malaria. Recent molecular studies confirmed this conclusion and identified several mtDNA lineages, suggesting the existence of significant intra-species genetic variation or cryptic speciation. Most identified lineages have a broad range of hosts and geographical distribution. Here, a rare...
Authors
Gediminas Valkiunas, Mikas Ilgūnas, Dovilė Bukauskaitė, Karin Fragner, Herbert Weissenböck, Carter T. Atkinson, Tatjana Iezhova
Vectors, hosts, and control measures for Zika virus in the Americas
We examine Zika virus (ZIKV) from an ecological perspective and with a focus on the Americas. We assess (1) the role of wildlife in ZIKV disease ecology, (2) how mosquito behavior and biology influence disease dynamics, and (3) how nontarget species and ecosystems may be impacted by vector control programs. Our review suggests that free-ranging, non-human primates may be involved in ZIKV...
Authors
Sarah J. Thompson, John M. Pearce, Andrew M. Ramey
Early action to address an emerging wildlife disease
A deadly fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) that affects amphibian skin was discovered during a die-off of European fire salamanders (Salamandra salamandra) in 2014. This pathogen has the potential to worsen already severe worldwide amphibian declines. Bsal is a close relative to another fungal disease known as Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Many scientists...
Authors
M. J. Adams, M.Scott Harris, Daniel A. Grear
Maternal androgens in avian brood parasites and their hosts: responses to parasitism and competition?
In the coevolutionary dynamic of avian brood parasites and their hosts, maternal (or transgenerational) effects have rarely been investigated. We examined the potential role of elevated yolk testosterone in eggs of the principal brood parasite in North America, the brown-headed cowbird, and three of its frequent host species. Elevated maternal androgens in eggs are a common maternal...
Authors
Caldwell Hahn, John C. Wingfield, David M. Fox, Brian K. Walker, Jill E Thomley
Blood serum chemistry of wild Alaskan Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) with avian keratin disorder
We measured serum chemistries in wild Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) from Alaska to test for potential differences associated with beak deformities characteristic of avian keratin disorder. Lower uric acid in affected birds was the only difference detected between groups, although sample sizes were small. This difference could be associated with fasting or malnutrition in...
Authors
Caroline R. Van Hemert, Colleen M. Handel
Changes in the prevalence of avian disease and mosquito vectors at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge: a 14-year perspective and assessment of future risk
Throughout the main Hawaiian Islands, introduced mosquito-borne disease has had, and continues to have, a profound impact on the distributions and abundance of native Hawaiian forest birds. Populations of remaining native forest birds are largely restricted to high elevation forests where mean temperatures are marginal for vector and parasite development and limited availability of...
Authors
Dennis Lapointe, Jacqueline M. Gaudioso-Levita, Carter T. Atkinson, Ariel N. Egan, Kathleen Hayes
Novel picornavirus associated with avian keratin disorder in Alaskan birds
Avian keratin disorder (AKD), characterized by debilitating overgrowth of the avian beak, was first documented in black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) in Alaska. Subsequently, similar deformities have appeared in numerous species across continents. Despite the widespread distribution of this emerging pathology, the cause of AKD remains elusive. As a result, it is unknown...
Authors
Maxine Zylberberg, Caroline R. Van Hemert, John P. Dumbacher, Colleen M. Handel, Tarik Tihan, Joseph L. DeRisi