Microbiologist Erin Stelzer samples a wetland for infectious avian influenza virus at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Iowa.
Erin A Stelzer
Erin received her Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from The Ohio State University. She started her career at the USGS in 2006 at the Ohio Water Science Center. Currently, Erin is working on a variety of molecular microbiological topics including: cyanobacterial toxin genes, taste and odor genes, enteric viruses, and eDNA.
Science and Products
Wings of Change: The Environment's Influence on Bird Flu
Low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses naturally occur in wild birds and are rarely fatal. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses are highly contagious, spread rapidly, are often fatal to poultry, and have been responsible for worldwide outbreaks. Together, LPAI and HPAI are generally referred to as either avian influenza viruses (AIVs) or "the bird flu."
Environmental detection of avian influenza virus
A collaborative project with Federal and university partners working toward the goal of understanding avian influenza viruses (AIVs) in the environment: early detection, enhancing biosurveillance, and mitigation to reduce spread into domestic poultry and potential occupational or recreational exposure to humans.
USGS Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory - Cyanobacteria and toxin gene molecular assays
Harmful cyanobacterial “algal” blooms and associated toxins are of concern in many parts of the world because of their effects on drinking water, water-based recreation, and watershed ecology. Cyanotoxins are a diverse group of compounds that include hepatotoxins, neurotoxins, cytotoxins, dermatotoxins, and irritant toxins (Wiegand and Pflugmacher, 2005). Numerous incidents of animal and human...
Using models to estimate microcystin concentrations in Ohio recreational and source waters
Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) and associated toxins, such as microcystin, are a major global water-quality issue. In Lake Erie and inland lakes in Ohio, elevated microcystin concentrations have caused water-resource managers to issue recreational water-quality advisories, and detections of microcystin in source waters have caused drinking-water plant managers to increase...
Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs)
Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (HABs) are increasingly a global concern because HABs pose a threat to human and aquatic ecosystem health and cause economic damages. Toxins produced by some species of cyanobacteria (called cyanotoxins) can cause acute and chronic illnesses in humans and pets. Aquatic ecosystem health also is affected by cyanotoxins, as well as low dissolved oxygen...
Ohio Microbiology Program - Home
The U.S. Geological Survey MI-OH Water Science Center Microbiology Laboratories in Lansing, Michigan and Columbus, Ohio address water-related public-health concerns across the Nation using traditional and cutting-edge analytical approaches. The laboratories work with government agencies, academic institution, and regional and local partners to study the processes and anthropogenic influences that...
Biodegradation Of Microcystins In Lake Erie Source Waters And Filters From Drinking-Water Plants
Harmful cyanobacterial “algal” blooms (cyanoHABs) and associated toxins, such as microcystin, are a major global water-quality issue. In Lake Erie, researchers and local health officials have identified the presence of cyanobacterial blooms during the summer and early fall seasons. This is especially pronounced in the Lake Erie Western Basin, where the City of Toledo was forced to issue a do-not...
Water sampling at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge
Microbiologist Erin Stelzer samples a wetland for infectious avian influenza virus at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Iowa.
Microbiologist filters wetland water from a park in Iowa
USGS Microbiologist Erin Stelzer filters wetland water from a park in Iowa on a gray spring day.
USGS Microbiologist Erin Stelzer filters wetland water from a park in Iowa on a gray spring day.
Erin Stelzer arriving to MI-BaRL lab with truck carrying over 1100 liters of wetland water prepped for avian influenza study
linkErin Stelzer collected and transported over 1100 liters of wetland water to the Michigan Bacteriological Research Laboratory (MI-BaRL; Lansing, MI) as part of work to finalize laboratory methods to detect infectious avian influenza virus (AIV) in freshwater. The methods will test how biotic factors and water chemistry influenced the recovery of a known con
Erin Stelzer arriving to MI-BaRL lab with truck carrying over 1100 liters of wetland water prepped for avian influenza study
linkErin Stelzer collected and transported over 1100 liters of wetland water to the Michigan Bacteriological Research Laboratory (MI-BaRL; Lansing, MI) as part of work to finalize laboratory methods to detect infectious avian influenza virus (AIV) in freshwater. The methods will test how biotic factors and water chemistry influenced the recovery of a known con
Scientists pose with filtration spike experiment
(L to R) Research Hydrologist Laura Hubbard, Supervisory Hydrologist Carrie Givens, and Microbiologist Erin Stelzer pose with filtration spike experiment equipment at the Michigan Bacteriological Research Laboratory (MI-BaRL) in Lansing, Michigan.
(L to R) Research Hydrologist Laura Hubbard, Supervisory Hydrologist Carrie Givens, and Microbiologist Erin Stelzer pose with filtration spike experiment equipment at the Michigan Bacteriological Research Laboratory (MI-BaRL) in Lansing, Michigan.
Science and Products
Wings of Change: The Environment's Influence on Bird Flu
Low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses naturally occur in wild birds and are rarely fatal. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses are highly contagious, spread rapidly, are often fatal to poultry, and have been responsible for worldwide outbreaks. Together, LPAI and HPAI are generally referred to as either avian influenza viruses (AIVs) or "the bird flu."
Environmental detection of avian influenza virus
A collaborative project with Federal and university partners working toward the goal of understanding avian influenza viruses (AIVs) in the environment: early detection, enhancing biosurveillance, and mitigation to reduce spread into domestic poultry and potential occupational or recreational exposure to humans.
USGS Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory - Cyanobacteria and toxin gene molecular assays
Harmful cyanobacterial “algal” blooms and associated toxins are of concern in many parts of the world because of their effects on drinking water, water-based recreation, and watershed ecology. Cyanotoxins are a diverse group of compounds that include hepatotoxins, neurotoxins, cytotoxins, dermatotoxins, and irritant toxins (Wiegand and Pflugmacher, 2005). Numerous incidents of animal and human...
Using models to estimate microcystin concentrations in Ohio recreational and source waters
Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) and associated toxins, such as microcystin, are a major global water-quality issue. In Lake Erie and inland lakes in Ohio, elevated microcystin concentrations have caused water-resource managers to issue recreational water-quality advisories, and detections of microcystin in source waters have caused drinking-water plant managers to increase...
Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs)
Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (HABs) are increasingly a global concern because HABs pose a threat to human and aquatic ecosystem health and cause economic damages. Toxins produced by some species of cyanobacteria (called cyanotoxins) can cause acute and chronic illnesses in humans and pets. Aquatic ecosystem health also is affected by cyanotoxins, as well as low dissolved oxygen...
Ohio Microbiology Program - Home
The U.S. Geological Survey MI-OH Water Science Center Microbiology Laboratories in Lansing, Michigan and Columbus, Ohio address water-related public-health concerns across the Nation using traditional and cutting-edge analytical approaches. The laboratories work with government agencies, academic institution, and regional and local partners to study the processes and anthropogenic influences that...
Biodegradation Of Microcystins In Lake Erie Source Waters And Filters From Drinking-Water Plants
Harmful cyanobacterial “algal” blooms (cyanoHABs) and associated toxins, such as microcystin, are a major global water-quality issue. In Lake Erie, researchers and local health officials have identified the presence of cyanobacterial blooms during the summer and early fall seasons. This is especially pronounced in the Lake Erie Western Basin, where the City of Toledo was forced to issue a do-not...
Water sampling at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge
Microbiologist Erin Stelzer samples a wetland for infectious avian influenza virus at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Iowa.
Microbiologist Erin Stelzer samples a wetland for infectious avian influenza virus at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Iowa.
Microbiologist filters wetland water from a park in Iowa
USGS Microbiologist Erin Stelzer filters wetland water from a park in Iowa on a gray spring day.
USGS Microbiologist Erin Stelzer filters wetland water from a park in Iowa on a gray spring day.
Erin Stelzer arriving to MI-BaRL lab with truck carrying over 1100 liters of wetland water prepped for avian influenza study
linkErin Stelzer collected and transported over 1100 liters of wetland water to the Michigan Bacteriological Research Laboratory (MI-BaRL; Lansing, MI) as part of work to finalize laboratory methods to detect infectious avian influenza virus (AIV) in freshwater. The methods will test how biotic factors and water chemistry influenced the recovery of a known con
Erin Stelzer arriving to MI-BaRL lab with truck carrying over 1100 liters of wetland water prepped for avian influenza study
linkErin Stelzer collected and transported over 1100 liters of wetland water to the Michigan Bacteriological Research Laboratory (MI-BaRL; Lansing, MI) as part of work to finalize laboratory methods to detect infectious avian influenza virus (AIV) in freshwater. The methods will test how biotic factors and water chemistry influenced the recovery of a known con
Scientists pose with filtration spike experiment
(L to R) Research Hydrologist Laura Hubbard, Supervisory Hydrologist Carrie Givens, and Microbiologist Erin Stelzer pose with filtration spike experiment equipment at the Michigan Bacteriological Research Laboratory (MI-BaRL) in Lansing, Michigan.
(L to R) Research Hydrologist Laura Hubbard, Supervisory Hydrologist Carrie Givens, and Microbiologist Erin Stelzer pose with filtration spike experiment equipment at the Michigan Bacteriological Research Laboratory (MI-BaRL) in Lansing, Michigan.