Data
Access scientific datasets from the USGS National Wildlife Health Center below. Wildlife morbidity and mortality event data can be accessed through WHISPers. If you can't find the data you are looking for, contact whispers@usgs.gov.
Filter Total Items: 112
Data Release: Coordinated efforts toward understanding a mortality event in wild passerines in the eastern United States: Responses, lessons learned and future recommendations
This data set describes post-mortem examination of avian species from a rapid response to a wildlife health event. We reported on the response to a 2021 mortality event in wild passerines in the eastern US. Early ground efforts by wildlife rehabilitators and veterinarians, with public participation, fueled rapid responses by government agencies including sample submission and evaluation...
Data release for mortality events in Yuma myotis (Myotis yumanensis) due to white-nose syndrome in Washington, USA, 2020-2024
The impacts of white-nose syndrome (WNS) on many bat species in eastern North America have been well-documented due to the length of time that the causative agent, Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), has been present and the ability to monitor bat hibernacula in that region. However, the disease outcomes for bat species in western North America are less known because of the more recent...
Specimens collected for pathogen profiling in North American lagomorphs
Collection data for rabbit tissues sequenced for metagenomic evaluation of selected tissues.
Prairie dog trapping locations treated with plague or vaccine baits in western states
The data were collected to determine the density and abundance of prairie dogs in relation to treatment with vaccine or placebo baits and the occurrence of plague.
Pathological findings by fixative time and formulation for Porites evermanni and Montipora capitata
Collections for histopathology in corals require holding of samples in seawater for a time before they are fixed for histopathology processing. This could adversely affect interpretation of morphologic changes during histopathology examinations. We evaluated microscopic morphology of Porites evermanni and Montipora capitata, held (0-120 min) in seawater prior to fixation in Z-Fix...
Pathology of lesions in corals from the US Virgin Islands data release
Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) was first documented in Florida in 2014 and has since spread through the Caribbean causing unprecedented mortality in over 20 species of corals. The cause of SCTLD is unknown, but bacteria are suspected based on regression of gross lesions in some corals treated with antibiotics. Limited pathology studies on SCTLD exist, but it is likely that...
Indiana Amphibian Pathogen Surveillance data release
Data in this dataset were collected as a part of a surveillance project for reintroduction of a state endangered species in Indiana. This data was collected in the field by state biologists and sent to the USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) for testing of four amphibian pathogens, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bs), Ranavirus, and...
Avian disease screening of translocated sage grouse captured in Montana, USA
The purpose of this project is to determine the infectious status and exposure status of several diseases that have the potential to impact the health of greater sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) captured in Montana, USA to be translocated to Alberta, Canada. Specific disease status to be tested include, infection with avian influenza virus (AIV), infection with Avian Paramyxovirus...
Arsenic levels in necropsied Sonora mud turtles from Montezuma Well, Arizona in 2015
Montezuma Well is an unusual fishless desert wetland in central Arizona. Water in the Well is naturally enriched with >100 g/L dissolved geogenic arsenic (As) and supports a relatively simple aquatic desert food web with several endemic invertebrate species. Previous studies of As among various environmental compartments and organisms in Montezuma Well have not included turtles despite...
Data Release for Replicate amphibian swab and standard dilution of artificial DNA data to assess qPCR and sampling detection error for Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.
We generated a data set from by collecting duplicate swabs from all amphibian individuals sampled at 5 sites (96 individuals) and analyzed these duplicate swabs running 3 subsamples of the extracted DNA in separate qPCR reactions. The resulting data set included 2 swabs per individual with 1 qPCR result and a 2nd swab with 3 qPCR results for detection of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis...
Little Brown Bats (Myotis lucifugus) weights and Ct values for SARS-CoV-2 Infection challenge
Little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) weights and SARS-CoV2 test results were collected as part of study to assess transmission potential of SARS-CoV2 in North American bat populations. It has been proposed that the SARS-CoV-2 virus originated in Asian bats and subsequently spread through human populations as a pandemic. There is concern that infected humans could transmit the virus to...
2018 Embarrass River Microsporidia
During an epidemiologic survey following a mortality event of freshwater mussels in 2018 in the Embarrass River, Wisconsin, USA, we identified a novel microsporidian parasite in the ovary of mucket (Actinonaias ligamentina), plain pocketbook (Lampsilis cardium), and fatmucket (Lampsilis siliquoidea) (Unioinidae). Histopathology showed round-to-oval microsporidial spores in the cytoplasm...