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Erik Hofmeister

Erik Hofmeister is a Research Virologist at the National Wildlife Health Center.

Science and Products

link
Mosquito, species not verified

Vector-Borne Diseases

Vector-borne diseases are transmitted from one animal to another by vectors, including insects, such as mosquitoes or fleas, and arachnids, such as ticks. The USGS National Wildlife Health Center investigates wildlife diseases, including vector-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus and sylvatic plague.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, National Wildlife Health Center
link

Vector-Borne Diseases

Vector-borne diseases are transmitted from one animal to another by vectors, including insects, such as mosquitoes or fleas, and arachnids, such as ticks. The USGS National Wildlife Health Center investigates wildlife diseases, including vector-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus and sylvatic plague.
Learn More
link
Caribou roaming the Arctic Coastal Plain

Synthesizing Climate Change Impacts on Wildlife Health and Identifying Adaptation Strategies

Changing climate conditions could have significant impacts on wildlife health. Shifts in temperature and precipitation may directly affect the occurrence of disease in fish and wildlife by altering their interactions with pathogens (such as the bacterium that causes Lyme disease), helping vectors like mosquitoes and ticks expand their range, or speeding up the time it takes for a parasite to devel
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
link

Synthesizing Climate Change Impacts on Wildlife Health and Identifying Adaptation Strategies

Changing climate conditions could have significant impacts on wildlife health. Shifts in temperature and precipitation may directly affect the occurrence of disease in fish and wildlife by altering their interactions with pathogens (such as the bacterium that causes Lyme disease), helping vectors like mosquitoes and ticks expand their range, or speeding up the time it takes for a parasite to devel
Learn More

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-1 (APMV1)
By
National Wildlife Health Center

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 native North
By
National Wildlife Health Center

Data Release for Assessing the Impact of Changing Water Resources on Migratory Bird Health and Management in the Central Flyway of the United States

There is a growing movement within natural resource management to view wildlife health as a cumulative outcome of many different factors, rather than simply the absence of disease. This inclusive understanding of health opens the door to management options that are more creative than traditional techniques to prevent or mitigate pathogens. The public health field uses a determinants of health fram
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers

Serologic Survey of Selected Arthropod Borne Pathogens in Free-ranging Snowshoe Hares (Lepus americanus) Captured in Northern Michigan, USA

We conducted a serosurvey of snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) for vector-borne pathogens in 2016-2017 that were captured in the Hiawatha National Forest in the eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan, USA. At capture, in addition to age, sex, body weight of the hare and a blood sample data was collected on the ecological land type (USDA Forest Service. 2006. Hiawatha National Forest 2006 Forest Plan.
By
National Wildlife Health Center

Experimental infection of Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) with SARS-CoV-2

We experimentally challenged wild Mexican free-tailed bats (TABR) with SARS-CoV-2 to determine the susceptibility, reservoir potential, and population impacts of infection in this species. Of nine bats oronasally inoculated with SARS-CoV-2, five became infected and orally excreted moderate amounts of virus for up to 18 days post inoculation. These five subjects all seroconverted and cleared the vi
By
Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, National Wildlife Health Center

LAMP assay for detection of Asian fish tapeworm

Data are relative fluorescent units obtained from the FAM channel of a AmpliFire Isothermal Fluorometer (Agdia, Inc., Elkhart, USA) recorded every 10 sec during as isothermal (LAMP) amplification. The isothermal reaction is to detect the Asian fish tapeworm, Schyzocotyle acheilognathi [syn. Bothriocephalus]. Samples (column headers) are described in tabs and include 1) positive control dilution se
By
Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, National Wildlife Health Center

Dataset: Acute oral toxicity and tissue residues of saxitoxin in the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

This data set is composed of data collected from an experimental study inoculating mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) with Saxitoxin and associated control ducks. Data includes the specific of inoculation, observational behavioral data, daily weights, dosing, results of inoculation, testing of samples collected throughout the study, and necropsy results.
By
Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, National Wildlife Health Center

West Nile virus susceptibility of American singer canaries: Data

hree datasets are included: 1) survival of domesticated canaries and American crows following sub-cutaneous challenges ranging from 101 – 105 plaque forming units of West Nile virus. 2) Arbitrary units of WNV detected by RT-PCR or plaque forming units of WNV cultured in vero cells in 4 separate studies. Culture results are indicated for each day post WNV challenge. 3) Weight (mass) changes in gram
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, National Wildlife Health Center

An examination of the effect of aerosolized Permanone insecticide on zebra finch susceptibility to West Nile virus

Following building an aerosol exposure chamber in which we could expose domesticated zebra finches, we examined the effects of exposure to aerosolized Permanone® 30:30 insecticide (permethrin and piperonyl butoxide in soy oil vehicle) at ~103-106 x potential environmental concentrations on the response to experimental challenge with West Nile virus (WNV). Compared to vehicle control birds, WNV out
By
Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, National Wildlife Health Center

Transcriptional response to West Nile virus infection in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata), a songbird model for immune function: Data

The data set contains paired-end, 100 nucleotide long RNA sequencing reads for each sample. Raw sequencing reads ranged from 18-30million reads per sample. Quality trimmed reads were mapped to the Zebra Finch reference genome with an average of 79.0-80.8% mapping rate, corresponding to 18,618 Ensembl gene IDs. Of these, 14,114 genes averaged at least 5 mapped reads across all samples and were util
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, National Wildlife Health Center

Susceptibility and antibody response of the laboratory model zebra finch

The data set contains the results of experimental challenge of captive zebra finches with an American crow isolate of West Nile virus. Data include infectivity, mortality, viremia, oral shedding of virus, and serology for anti- WNV antibodies. Australian and Timor zebra finches were used in this study and both are useful as a laboratory model of an avian species with moderate susceptib
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, National Wildlife Health Center
Image: Zebra Finch
Zebra Finch
Zebra Finch
Image: Zebra Finch

Zebra Finch

Zebra Finch

Erik Hofmeister, NWHC veterinarian and research scientist, holds a zebra finch, a species which serves as a laboratory model for study of avian diseases.

By
Ecosystems, Communications and Publishing
Image: Zebra Finch

Zebra Finch

Zebra Finch

Erik Hofmeister, NWHC veterinarian and research scientist, holds a zebra finch, a species which serves as a laboratory model for study of avian diseases.

By
Ecosystems, Communications and Publishing
Filter Total Items: 35

Experimental infection of Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) with SARS-CoV-2

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus is thought to have originated in wild bats from Asia, and as the resulting pandemic continues into its third year, concerns have been raised that the virus will expand its host range and infect North American wildlife species, including bats. Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) live in large colonies in the souther
Authors
Jeffrey S. Hall, Erik K. Hofmeister, Hon S. Ip, Sean Nashold, Ariel Elizabeth Leon, Carly Marie Malave, Elizabeth Falendysz, Tonie E. Rocke, M. Carossino, U. Balasuriya, Susan Knowles
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

Future directions to manage wildlife health in a changing climate

In September 2019 The Economist wrote an obituary to Okjökull, a glacier in western Iceland that was declared “dead” in 2014, a victim of climate change. Although a few wildlife species have already incurred such a fate (e.g., the Bramble Cay melomys [Melomys rubicola]) (Fulton 2017), many more are on the path to climate-driven extinction (Andermann et al. 2020; Ceballos et al. 2015; He et al. 201
Authors
Erik K. Hofmeister, Emily Cornelius Ruhs, Lucas Fortini, M. Camille Hopkins, Lee C. Jones, Kevin D. Lafferty, Jonathan M. Sleeman, Olivia E. LeDee
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, National Wildlife Health Center, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Acute oral toxicity and tissue residues of saxitoxin in the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Since 2014, widespread, annual mortality events involving multiple species of seabirds have occurred in the Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea, and Chukchi Sea. Among these die-offs, emaciation was a common finding with starvation often identified as the cause of death. However, saxitoxin (STX) was detected in many carcasses, indicating exposure of these seabirds to STX in the marine environment. Few data
Authors
Robert J. Dusek, Matthew M. Smith, Caroline R. Van Hemert, Valerie I. Shearn-Bochsler, Sherwood Hall, Clark D. Ridge, Ransome Hardison, Robert Kaler, Barbara Bodenstein, Erik K. Hofmeister, Jeffrey S. Hall
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, National Wildlife Health Center

Genetic sequencing of Attwater's prairie chicken avian poxvirus and evaluation of its potential role in reticuloendotheliosis virus outbreaks

Efforts to breed Attwater's prairie chickens (APC; Tympanuchus cupido attwateri) in captivity to supplement wild populations of this endangered bird have been negatively affected by infections with Avipoxvirus and reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV). Because REV can be integrated into the genome of fowlpox virus (FPV) and may be transmitted in that manner, identifying the source of avipox disease in
Authors
Erik K. Hofmeister, Fiona Antigoni Georgousi, Melissa Lund, Pam Ferro, Joe Flanagan, Holly Haefele, Mike Morrow
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

Experimental challenge of a North American bat species, big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), with SARS-CoV-2

The recently emerged novel coronavirus, SARS‐CoV‐2, is phylogenetically related to bat coronaviruses (CoVs), specifically SARS‐related CoVs from the Eurasian bat family Rhinolophidae. As this human pandemic virus has spread across the world, the potential impacts of SARS‐CoV‐2 on native North American bat populations are unknown, as is the ability of North American bats to serve as reservoirs or i
Authors
Jeffrey S. Hall, Susan Knowles, Sean Nashold, Hon S. Ip, Ariel Elizabeth Leon, Tonie E. Rocke, Saskia Annatina Keller, Mariano Carossino, Udeni B.R. Balasuriya, Erik K. Hofmeister
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

Population differences in susceptibility to Plasmodium relictum in zebra finches Taeniopygia guttata

Domesticated Australian and Timor zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata castanotis, and T. guttata guttata, respectively) were inoculated with canary (Serinus canaria) blood containing a Hawaiian isolate of Plasmodium relictum (lineage GRW04), a hemoparasite that causes avian malaria. In two experimental trials, Timor, but not Australian zebra finches developed parasitemia that was detected by micros
Authors
Erik K. Hofmeister, Christopher N. Balakrishnan, Carter T. Atkinson
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

Effect of climate change on disease spread in wildlife

A growing body of evidence indicates that climate change alone, or acting synergistically with current anthropogenic threats, is affecting the health of wild populations of aquatic and terrestrial wildlife. Measurable by-products of climate change include elevated atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, higher average global temperatures; variations in global precipitation patterns, rising
Authors
Erik K. Hofmeister, Caroline R. Van Hemert
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Alaska Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center

West Nile virus infection in American singer canaries: An experimental model in a highly susceptible avian species

This study investigated the susceptibility of American singer canaries (Serinus canaria) to West Nile virus (WNV) infection. Adult canaries were inoculated with 105, 102, and 101plaque forming units (PFU) of WNV. All birds became infected and mortality occurred by 5 days postinoculation. The load of viral RNA as determined by RT-qPCR was dose dependent, and was higher at all doses than the level o
Authors
Erik K. Hofmeister, Melissa Lund, Valerie I. Shearn-Bochsler
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

An examination of the effect of aerosolized permanone insecticide on zebra finch susceptibility to West Nile virus

West Nile virus is primarily maintained cryptically primarily in avian (Passerine) populations where it is transmitted by Culex spp. mosquitoes. Mosquito control measures currently include physical activities to reduce mosquito breeding sites, the application of mosquito larvicides, or aerosolized insecticides to kill adults (adulticides) when arboviral diseases such as West Nile virus (WNV) or Zi
Authors
Mark D. Jankowski, E. Moore Murray, Erik K. Hofmeister
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

Stress hormones predict a host superspreader phenotype in the West Nile virus system

Glucocorticoid stress hormones, such as corticosterone (CORT), have profound effects on the behaviour and physiology of organisms, and thus have the potential to alter host competence and the contributions of individuals to population- and community-level pathogen dynamics. For example, CORT could alter the rate of contacts among hosts, pathogens and vectors through its widespread effects on host
Authors
Stephanie Gervasi, Sarah Burgan, Erik K. Hofmeister, Thomas R. Unnasch, Lynn B. Martin
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

Transcriptional response to West Nile virus infection in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata)

West Nile virus (WNV) is a widespread arbovirus that imposes a significant cost to both human and wildlife health. WNV exists in a bird-mosquito transmission cycle in which passerine birds act as the primary reservoir host. As a public health concern, the mammalian immune response to WNV has been studied in detail. Little, however, is known about the avian immune response to WNV. Avian taxa show v
Authors
Daniel J. Newhouse, Erik K. Hofmeister, Christopher N. Balakrishnan
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

Serosurvey for West Nile virus antibodies in Steller's Jays (Cyanocitta stelleri) captured in coastal California

West Nile virus (WNV) was first detected in New York in 1999 and, during its expansion across the continental US, southern Canada, and Mexico, members of the Corvidae (ravens, crows, magpies, and jays) were frequently infected and highly susceptible to the virus. As part of a behavioral study of Steller's Jays (Cyanocitta stelleri) conducted from 2011–2014 in the coastal California counties of San
Authors
Elena West, Erik K. Hofmeister, M. Zach Peery
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center
National Wildlife Health Center co-sponsors Climate Change and Wildlife Health Workshop

National Wildlife Health Center co-sponsors Climate Change and Wildlife Health Workshop

On January 7-9, 2020, the USGS Northeast Climate Adaption Science Center and the USGS National Wildlife Health Center sponsored a Climate Change and...

Read Article
Project Examines Emerging Challenges Related to Climate Change, Disease, and Wildlife Health

Project Examines Emerging Challenges Related to Climate Change, Disease, and Wildlife Health

The USGS National Wildlife Health Center, in partnership with the USGS Climate Adaptation Science Center Network, is leading a one-year project to...

Read Article

Science and Products

link
Mosquito, species not verified

Vector-Borne Diseases

Vector-borne diseases are transmitted from one animal to another by vectors, including insects, such as mosquitoes or fleas, and arachnids, such as ticks. The USGS National Wildlife Health Center investigates wildlife diseases, including vector-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus and sylvatic plague.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, National Wildlife Health Center
link

Vector-Borne Diseases

Vector-borne diseases are transmitted from one animal to another by vectors, including insects, such as mosquitoes or fleas, and arachnids, such as ticks. The USGS National Wildlife Health Center investigates wildlife diseases, including vector-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus and sylvatic plague.
Learn More
link
Caribou roaming the Arctic Coastal Plain

Synthesizing Climate Change Impacts on Wildlife Health and Identifying Adaptation Strategies

Changing climate conditions could have significant impacts on wildlife health. Shifts in temperature and precipitation may directly affect the occurrence of disease in fish and wildlife by altering their interactions with pathogens (such as the bacterium that causes Lyme disease), helping vectors like mosquitoes and ticks expand their range, or speeding up the time it takes for a parasite to devel
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
link

Synthesizing Climate Change Impacts on Wildlife Health and Identifying Adaptation Strategies

Changing climate conditions could have significant impacts on wildlife health. Shifts in temperature and precipitation may directly affect the occurrence of disease in fish and wildlife by altering their interactions with pathogens (such as the bacterium that causes Lyme disease), helping vectors like mosquitoes and ticks expand their range, or speeding up the time it takes for a parasite to devel
Learn More

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-1 (APMV1)
By
National Wildlife Health Center

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 native North
By
National Wildlife Health Center

Data Release for Assessing the Impact of Changing Water Resources on Migratory Bird Health and Management in the Central Flyway of the United States

There is a growing movement within natural resource management to view wildlife health as a cumulative outcome of many different factors, rather than simply the absence of disease. This inclusive understanding of health opens the door to management options that are more creative than traditional techniques to prevent or mitigate pathogens. The public health field uses a determinants of health fram
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers

Serologic Survey of Selected Arthropod Borne Pathogens in Free-ranging Snowshoe Hares (Lepus americanus) Captured in Northern Michigan, USA

We conducted a serosurvey of snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) for vector-borne pathogens in 2016-2017 that were captured in the Hiawatha National Forest in the eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan, USA. At capture, in addition to age, sex, body weight of the hare and a blood sample data was collected on the ecological land type (USDA Forest Service. 2006. Hiawatha National Forest 2006 Forest Plan.
By
National Wildlife Health Center

Experimental infection of Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) with SARS-CoV-2

We experimentally challenged wild Mexican free-tailed bats (TABR) with SARS-CoV-2 to determine the susceptibility, reservoir potential, and population impacts of infection in this species. Of nine bats oronasally inoculated with SARS-CoV-2, five became infected and orally excreted moderate amounts of virus for up to 18 days post inoculation. These five subjects all seroconverted and cleared the vi
By
Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, National Wildlife Health Center

LAMP assay for detection of Asian fish tapeworm

Data are relative fluorescent units obtained from the FAM channel of a AmpliFire Isothermal Fluorometer (Agdia, Inc., Elkhart, USA) recorded every 10 sec during as isothermal (LAMP) amplification. The isothermal reaction is to detect the Asian fish tapeworm, Schyzocotyle acheilognathi [syn. Bothriocephalus]. Samples (column headers) are described in tabs and include 1) positive control dilution se
By
Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, National Wildlife Health Center

Dataset: Acute oral toxicity and tissue residues of saxitoxin in the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

This data set is composed of data collected from an experimental study inoculating mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) with Saxitoxin and associated control ducks. Data includes the specific of inoculation, observational behavioral data, daily weights, dosing, results of inoculation, testing of samples collected throughout the study, and necropsy results.
By
Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, National Wildlife Health Center

West Nile virus susceptibility of American singer canaries: Data

hree datasets are included: 1) survival of domesticated canaries and American crows following sub-cutaneous challenges ranging from 101 – 105 plaque forming units of West Nile virus. 2) Arbitrary units of WNV detected by RT-PCR or plaque forming units of WNV cultured in vero cells in 4 separate studies. Culture results are indicated for each day post WNV challenge. 3) Weight (mass) changes in gram
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, National Wildlife Health Center

An examination of the effect of aerosolized Permanone insecticide on zebra finch susceptibility to West Nile virus

Following building an aerosol exposure chamber in which we could expose domesticated zebra finches, we examined the effects of exposure to aerosolized Permanone® 30:30 insecticide (permethrin and piperonyl butoxide in soy oil vehicle) at ~103-106 x potential environmental concentrations on the response to experimental challenge with West Nile virus (WNV). Compared to vehicle control birds, WNV out
By
Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, National Wildlife Health Center

Transcriptional response to West Nile virus infection in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata), a songbird model for immune function: Data

The data set contains paired-end, 100 nucleotide long RNA sequencing reads for each sample. Raw sequencing reads ranged from 18-30million reads per sample. Quality trimmed reads were mapped to the Zebra Finch reference genome with an average of 79.0-80.8% mapping rate, corresponding to 18,618 Ensembl gene IDs. Of these, 14,114 genes averaged at least 5 mapped reads across all samples and were util
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, National Wildlife Health Center

Susceptibility and antibody response of the laboratory model zebra finch

The data set contains the results of experimental challenge of captive zebra finches with an American crow isolate of West Nile virus. Data include infectivity, mortality, viremia, oral shedding of virus, and serology for anti- WNV antibodies. Australian and Timor zebra finches were used in this study and both are useful as a laboratory model of an avian species with moderate susceptib
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, National Wildlife Health Center
Image: Zebra Finch
Zebra Finch
Zebra Finch
Image: Zebra Finch

Zebra Finch

Zebra Finch

Erik Hofmeister, NWHC veterinarian and research scientist, holds a zebra finch, a species which serves as a laboratory model for study of avian diseases.

By
Ecosystems, Communications and Publishing
Image: Zebra Finch

Zebra Finch

Zebra Finch

Erik Hofmeister, NWHC veterinarian and research scientist, holds a zebra finch, a species which serves as a laboratory model for study of avian diseases.

By
Ecosystems, Communications and Publishing
Filter Total Items: 35

Experimental infection of Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) with SARS-CoV-2

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus is thought to have originated in wild bats from Asia, and as the resulting pandemic continues into its third year, concerns have been raised that the virus will expand its host range and infect North American wildlife species, including bats. Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) live in large colonies in the souther
Authors
Jeffrey S. Hall, Erik K. Hofmeister, Hon S. Ip, Sean Nashold, Ariel Elizabeth Leon, Carly Marie Malave, Elizabeth Falendysz, Tonie E. Rocke, M. Carossino, U. Balasuriya, Susan Knowles
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

Future directions to manage wildlife health in a changing climate

In September 2019 The Economist wrote an obituary to Okjökull, a glacier in western Iceland that was declared “dead” in 2014, a victim of climate change. Although a few wildlife species have already incurred such a fate (e.g., the Bramble Cay melomys [Melomys rubicola]) (Fulton 2017), many more are on the path to climate-driven extinction (Andermann et al. 2020; Ceballos et al. 2015; He et al. 201
Authors
Erik K. Hofmeister, Emily Cornelius Ruhs, Lucas Fortini, M. Camille Hopkins, Lee C. Jones, Kevin D. Lafferty, Jonathan M. Sleeman, Olivia E. LeDee
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, National Wildlife Health Center, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Acute oral toxicity and tissue residues of saxitoxin in the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Since 2014, widespread, annual mortality events involving multiple species of seabirds have occurred in the Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea, and Chukchi Sea. Among these die-offs, emaciation was a common finding with starvation often identified as the cause of death. However, saxitoxin (STX) was detected in many carcasses, indicating exposure of these seabirds to STX in the marine environment. Few data
Authors
Robert J. Dusek, Matthew M. Smith, Caroline R. Van Hemert, Valerie I. Shearn-Bochsler, Sherwood Hall, Clark D. Ridge, Ransome Hardison, Robert Kaler, Barbara Bodenstein, Erik K. Hofmeister, Jeffrey S. Hall
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, National Wildlife Health Center

Genetic sequencing of Attwater's prairie chicken avian poxvirus and evaluation of its potential role in reticuloendotheliosis virus outbreaks

Efforts to breed Attwater's prairie chickens (APC; Tympanuchus cupido attwateri) in captivity to supplement wild populations of this endangered bird have been negatively affected by infections with Avipoxvirus and reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV). Because REV can be integrated into the genome of fowlpox virus (FPV) and may be transmitted in that manner, identifying the source of avipox disease in
Authors
Erik K. Hofmeister, Fiona Antigoni Georgousi, Melissa Lund, Pam Ferro, Joe Flanagan, Holly Haefele, Mike Morrow
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

Experimental challenge of a North American bat species, big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), with SARS-CoV-2

The recently emerged novel coronavirus, SARS‐CoV‐2, is phylogenetically related to bat coronaviruses (CoVs), specifically SARS‐related CoVs from the Eurasian bat family Rhinolophidae. As this human pandemic virus has spread across the world, the potential impacts of SARS‐CoV‐2 on native North American bat populations are unknown, as is the ability of North American bats to serve as reservoirs or i
Authors
Jeffrey S. Hall, Susan Knowles, Sean Nashold, Hon S. Ip, Ariel Elizabeth Leon, Tonie E. Rocke, Saskia Annatina Keller, Mariano Carossino, Udeni B.R. Balasuriya, Erik K. Hofmeister
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

Population differences in susceptibility to Plasmodium relictum in zebra finches Taeniopygia guttata

Domesticated Australian and Timor zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata castanotis, and T. guttata guttata, respectively) were inoculated with canary (Serinus canaria) blood containing a Hawaiian isolate of Plasmodium relictum (lineage GRW04), a hemoparasite that causes avian malaria. In two experimental trials, Timor, but not Australian zebra finches developed parasitemia that was detected by micros
Authors
Erik K. Hofmeister, Christopher N. Balakrishnan, Carter T. Atkinson
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

Effect of climate change on disease spread in wildlife

A growing body of evidence indicates that climate change alone, or acting synergistically with current anthropogenic threats, is affecting the health of wild populations of aquatic and terrestrial wildlife. Measurable by-products of climate change include elevated atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, higher average global temperatures; variations in global precipitation patterns, rising
Authors
Erik K. Hofmeister, Caroline R. Van Hemert
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Alaska Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center

West Nile virus infection in American singer canaries: An experimental model in a highly susceptible avian species

This study investigated the susceptibility of American singer canaries (Serinus canaria) to West Nile virus (WNV) infection. Adult canaries were inoculated with 105, 102, and 101plaque forming units (PFU) of WNV. All birds became infected and mortality occurred by 5 days postinoculation. The load of viral RNA as determined by RT-qPCR was dose dependent, and was higher at all doses than the level o
Authors
Erik K. Hofmeister, Melissa Lund, Valerie I. Shearn-Bochsler
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

An examination of the effect of aerosolized permanone insecticide on zebra finch susceptibility to West Nile virus

West Nile virus is primarily maintained cryptically primarily in avian (Passerine) populations where it is transmitted by Culex spp. mosquitoes. Mosquito control measures currently include physical activities to reduce mosquito breeding sites, the application of mosquito larvicides, or aerosolized insecticides to kill adults (adulticides) when arboviral diseases such as West Nile virus (WNV) or Zi
Authors
Mark D. Jankowski, E. Moore Murray, Erik K. Hofmeister
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

Stress hormones predict a host superspreader phenotype in the West Nile virus system

Glucocorticoid stress hormones, such as corticosterone (CORT), have profound effects on the behaviour and physiology of organisms, and thus have the potential to alter host competence and the contributions of individuals to population- and community-level pathogen dynamics. For example, CORT could alter the rate of contacts among hosts, pathogens and vectors through its widespread effects on host
Authors
Stephanie Gervasi, Sarah Burgan, Erik K. Hofmeister, Thomas R. Unnasch, Lynn B. Martin
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

Transcriptional response to West Nile virus infection in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata)

West Nile virus (WNV) is a widespread arbovirus that imposes a significant cost to both human and wildlife health. WNV exists in a bird-mosquito transmission cycle in which passerine birds act as the primary reservoir host. As a public health concern, the mammalian immune response to WNV has been studied in detail. Little, however, is known about the avian immune response to WNV. Avian taxa show v
Authors
Daniel J. Newhouse, Erik K. Hofmeister, Christopher N. Balakrishnan
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center

Serosurvey for West Nile virus antibodies in Steller's Jays (Cyanocitta stelleri) captured in coastal California

West Nile virus (WNV) was first detected in New York in 1999 and, during its expansion across the continental US, southern Canada, and Mexico, members of the Corvidae (ravens, crows, magpies, and jays) were frequently infected and highly susceptible to the virus. As part of a behavioral study of Steller's Jays (Cyanocitta stelleri) conducted from 2011–2014 in the coastal California counties of San
Authors
Elena West, Erik K. Hofmeister, M. Zach Peery
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center
National Wildlife Health Center co-sponsors Climate Change and Wildlife Health Workshop

National Wildlife Health Center co-sponsors Climate Change and Wildlife Health Workshop

On January 7-9, 2020, the USGS Northeast Climate Adaption Science Center and the USGS National Wildlife Health Center sponsored a Climate Change and...

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Project Examines Emerging Challenges Related to Climate Change, Disease, and Wildlife Health

Project Examines Emerging Challenges Related to Climate Change, Disease, and Wildlife Health

The USGS National Wildlife Health Center, in partnership with the USGS Climate Adaptation Science Center Network, is leading a one-year project to...

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