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Christoper A Ottinger

Chris is a Research Fish Biologist at the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center in Kearneysville, WV

Comparative Immunologist.  Primary focus: Environmentally induced immunomodulation and disease susceptibility 

 

Professional Experience

  • Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Environmental Sciences, School of Marine Science, Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences, College of William and Mary.

  • Canadian Government Laboratory Visiting Fellow, Division of Marine Biology,Institute for Marine Biosciences, Canadian National Research Council.

Education and Certifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Biology, 1994, University of North Dakota

  • Master of Science, Biology, 1989, California State University, Chico

  • Bachelor of Arts, Biology, 1984; California State University, Chico

Science and Products

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Netting Fish

Assessment of the immune status of wild and laboratory-maintained smallmouth bass

Deaths of young-of-year smallmouth bass in the Chesapeake Bay drainage has been noted since 2005. Studies of affected fish have found bacterial, viral and parasitic infections. Mixed infections suggest these fish are immunosuppressed. Understanding the role of specific pathogens and environmental factors that contribute to their presence is important but equally important is the understanding of...
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Species Management Research Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Diseases of Aquatic Organisms
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Assessment of the immune status of wild and laboratory-maintained smallmouth bass

Deaths of young-of-year smallmouth bass in the Chesapeake Bay drainage has been noted since 2005. Studies of affected fish have found bacterial, viral and parasitic infections. Mixed infections suggest these fish are immunosuppressed. Understanding the role of specific pathogens and environmental factors that contribute to their presence is important but equally important is the understanding of...
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SARS-CoV-2 Data from National Wastewater Surveillance System Surge Capacity Sampling, September 2021

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is used to determine the consumption of, or exposure to, chemicals or pathogens in human populations, and is conducted by collecting representative samples of untreated wastewater (influent) to quantify pathogens shed in the population served by the sampled wastewater system. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Department of Health an
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Eastern Ecological Science Center
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Man and Woman in full protective gear work on samples in a lab.
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Man donning protective shoe covers for the lab.
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Filter Total Items: 35

Application of a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mitogenesis assay in smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) to augment wild fish health studies

The utility of a functional immune assay for smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) lymphocyte mitogenesis was evaluated. Wild populations in the Potomac River have faced disease and mortality with immunosuppression from exposure to chemical contaminants a suspected component. However, a validated set of immune parameters to screen for immunosuppression in wild fish populations is not available. P

Production and characterization of a mouse monoclonal antibody against smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) IgM

A murine monoclonal antibody (mAb, IgG2a) was produced for the detection of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) immunoglobulin (IgM). The antibody is specific for IgM heavy chain and was shown to also recognize the Ig heavy chain of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) using Western Blot analysis of plasma from 9 teleost taxa. When applied to the analysis o
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Development of a suite of functional immune assays and initial assessment of their utility in wild smallmouth bass health assessments

Methods were developed for measuring immune function in Micropterus dolomieu (smallmouth bass). The ultimate objective is to monitor and evaluate changes over time in immune status and disease resistance in conjunction with other characteristics of fish health and environmental stressors. To test these methods for utility in ecotoxicological studies, 192 smallmouth bass, age 2 years and older, wer
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

In vitro immune function in laboratory-reared age-0 smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) relative to diet

Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) are used as an indicator species in environmental monitoring and assessment studies. However, laboratory-based studies for methods development and effector assessment are limited for this species. Nutrition, a known modulator of teleost physiological responses including immune function, is a critical knowledge-gap sometimes overlooked in the design of laborat
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Influenza A virus detected in native bivalves in waterfowl habitat of the Delmarva Peninsula, USA

We evaluated the prevalence of influenza A virus (IAV) in different species of bivalves inhabiting natural water bodies in waterfowl habitat along the Delmarva Peninsula and Chesapeake Bay in eastern Maryland. Bivalve tissue from clam and mussel specimens (Macoma balthica, Macoma phenax, Mulinia sp., Rangia cuneata, Mya arenaria, Guekensia demissa, and an undetermined mussel species) from five col
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

A method for determining avian influenza virus hemagglutinin and neuraminidase subtype association

Methods for grouping specific avian influenza virus (AIV) hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) subtype reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) products into HA:NA subtypes when egg incubation is technically not feasible were evaluated. These approaches were adopted for use as post hoc methods after melt curve analysis. The methods are based on ratios obtained from amplicon co
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Low pathogenic avian influenza viruses in wild migratory waterfowl in a region of high poultry production, Delmarva, Maryland

Migratory waterfowl are natural reservoirs for low pathogenic avian influenza viruses (AIVs) and may contribute to the long-distance dispersal of these pathogens as well as spillover into domestic bird populations. Surveillance for AIVs is critical to assessing risks for potential spread of these viruses among wild and domestic bird populations. The Delmarva Peninsula on the east coast of the Unit
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Molecular detection of avian influenza virus from sediment samples in waterfowl habitats on the Delmarva Peninsula, United States

Avian influenza viruses (AIV) affect many species of birds including waterfowl and may persist in sediment in aquatic habitats. Sediment samples were collected from two areas representative of prime migration and overwintering waterfowl habitat in Dorchester County, Maryland in the fall and winter of 2013–2014. Samples were screened for the presence of AIV via reverse transcriptase–quantitative PC
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Transforming growth factor-β1 expression in endangered age-0 shortnose suckers (Chasmistes brevirostris) from Upper Klamath Lake, OR relative to histopathology, meristic, spatial, and temporal data

During July – September of 2008, 2009, and 2010 endangered age-0 juvenile shortnose suckers were sampled from Upper Klamath Lake, OR in a health evaluation that included the measurement of transforming growth factor – beta (TGF-β) expression in spleen in combination with a histopathology assessment. This analysis was performed to determine if the expression of this immuno-regulator could be used a
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

In vitro immune functions in thiamine-replete and -depleted lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush)

In this study we examined the impacts of in vivo thiamine deficiency on lake trout leukocyte function measured in vitro. When compared outside the context of individual-specific thiamine concentrations no significant differences were observed in leukocyte bactericidal activity or in concanavalin A (Con A), and phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA-P) stimulated leukocyte proliferation. Placing immune function
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Cooperative Research Units

Impact of thiamine deficiency on T-cell dependent and T-cell independent antibody production in lake trout

Lake trout Salvelinus namaycush on thiamine-replete and thiamine-depleted diets were evaluated for the effects of thiamine status on in vivo responses to the T-dependent antigen trinitophenol (TNP)-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (TNP-KLH), the T-independent antigen trinitrophenol-lipolysaccaharide (TNP-LPS), or Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline (DPBS; negative control fish). Plasma antibody concentr
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Cooperative Research Units

Development of a quantitative assay to measure expression of transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß) in Lost River sucker (Deltistes luxatus) and shortnose sucker (Chasmistes brevirostris) and evaluation of potential pitfalls in use with field-

The Nature Conservancy is in the process of restoring the Williamson River Delta in an attempt to recreate important juvenile habitat for the endangered shortnose sucker Chasmistes brevirostris and the endangered Lost River sucker Deltistes luxatus. Measurement of TGF-β mRNA expression level was one of the indicators chosen to evaluate juvenile sucker health during the restoration process. TGF-β m
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Rhodes M.W., H. Kator, I. Kaattari, D. Gauthier, W. Vogelbein, and C.A. Ottinger. 2004. Isolation and Characterization of Mycobacterium spp. from striped bass, Morone saxatilis, from Chesapeake Bay. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 61: 41-51.
Rhodes, M. W., H. Kator, S. Kotob, P. van Berkum, I. Kaattari, W. Vogelbein, M. M. Floyd, W. Ray Butler, F. D. Quinn, C. Ottinger, and E. Shotts. 2001. A unique Mycobacterium species isolated from an epizootic of striped bass (Morone saxatilis ) related to Mycobacterium marinum and Mycobacterium ulcerans. Emerging Infectious Diseases 7: 896-899.
Kaattari, S.L. and C.A. Ottinger. 2000. Seasonality of trout leukocytic sensitivity to toxicity: Implications for immunotoxic biomonitoring. Marine Environmental Research 50: 465.
Ottinger, C. A. and S. L. Kaattari. 2000. Long term immune dysfunction in rainbow trout embryonically exposed to aflatoxin B1. Fish and Shellfish Immunology 10:101-106.
Ottinger, C.A., and S. L. Kaattari. 1998. Sensitivity of rainbow trout leukocytes to aflatoxin B1. Fish and Shellfish Immunology 8: 515-530.
Ottinger, C.A. 1994. Developmental morphology of Hysterothylacium dollfusi (Nematoda, Anisakidae) in paddlefish and an analysis of the host-parasite relationship, with a brief note on maintenance of juvenile paddlefish. Dissertation. Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Dakota.
Ottinger, C.A., and H.L. Holloway, Jr. 1994. Paddlefish precipitating-antibody reactions and in vitro macrophage adherence with Hysterothylacium dollfusi larvae. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health 6:303-309.
Holloway, H.L., Jr., C.A. Shoemaker, and C.A. Ottinger. 1993. Serum lysozyme levels in paddlefish and walleye. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health 5: 324-326.
Ottinger, C.A., H.L. Holloway, Jr., and T.M. Derrig. 1992. Maintenance of juvenile paddlefish as experimental animals. The Progressive Fish-Culturist 54: 121-124.
Holloway, H.L. Jr., T.A. Dick, and C.A. Ottinger. 1991. Polypodium hydriforme (Coelenterata) in paddlefish from the upper Missouri River drainage. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health 3: 210-212.
Holloway, H.L. Jr., and C.A. Ottinger. 1990. Serum protein in paddlefish and egg infections with Polypodium hydriforme. American Zoologist 30(4): 13A.
Choudhury, A., T.A. Dick, H. Holloway, and C. Ottinger. 1990. The lake sturgeon – Acipenser fulvescens (Chondrostei, Acipenseridae) in Canada: Preliminary studies on parasitofauna and immunological parameters. Interbasin Biota Transfer Study Board Proceedings, North Dakota Water Quality Symposium: 121-134.
Choudhury, A. C.A. Ottinger, T.A. Dick, and H.L. Holloway, Jr. 1990. Bibliography of Polypodium hydriforme. Interbasin Biota Transfer Study Board Proceedings, North Dakota Water Quality Symposium: 103-114.
Holloway, H.L., Jr., and C.A. Ottinger. 1990. Bibliography on immunology, haematology and parasites of paddlefish. Interbasin Biota Transfer Study Board Proceedings, North Dakota Water Quality Symposium: 115-120.
Ottinger, C.A. 1989. Composition and production of a riffle insect community in a northern California stream. Thesis. Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Chico.

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

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