Hon Ip
Hon Ip is a Diagnostic and Research Virologist at the National Wildlife Health Center.
As a Diagnostic and Research Virologist, I am interested in the emergence and spread of novel, introduced, and endemic viral diseases of wildlife. For example, through the National Wildlife Health Center’s long-standing program to investigate wildlife mortality events in the United States, our Diagnostic Virology Laboratory was first to detect introductions of West Nile Virus (in 1999) and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 (in 2014). Both of these introductions resulted in large-scale monitoring efforts that provided real-time and actionable intelligence to state and federal partners for disease response. We have also investigated periodic recurrence of Newcastle Disease in cormorants, geographic expansion of Eurasian collared doves and associated spread of pigeon paramyxovirus, and applied phylogenetic approaches to understand the diversity and transmission of viral diseases on the landscape. Since 2008 we have been studying viruses in North American bats, including coronaviruses. Following the recent emergence of COVID-19, this work provides a highly relevant framework for investigating possible impacts of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on native, North American bat species, and for more broadly characterizing the diversity of coronaviruses in North American wildlife.
Professional Experience
Diagnostic and Research Virologist at the National Wildlife Health Center
Education and Certifications
Ph. D. Molecular Parasitology. The Rockefeller University, New York, NY.
M. Sc. Microbiology and Parasitology. University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
B. Sc. Microbiology and Parasitology. University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Affiliations and Memberships*
Honorary Associate Fellow. Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Adjunct Assistant Professor. Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Science and Products
Evaluation of Nobuto filter paper strips for the detection of avian influenza virus antibody in waterfowl
Influence of body condition on influenza A virus infection in mallard ducks: Experimental infection data
Prevalence and pathology of West Nile virus in naturally infected house sparrows, western Nebraska, 2008
Pathology and virus detection in tissues of nestling house sparrows naturally infected with Buggy Creek virus (Togaviridae).
Intercontinental reassortment and genomic variation of low pathogenic avian influenza viruses isolated from northern pintails (Anas acuta) in Alaska: examining the evidence through space and time
Transmission and reassortment of avian influenza viruses at the Asian-North American interface
Limited evidence of trans-hemispheric movement of avian influenza viruses among contemporary North American shorebird isolates
Validation of a real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR assay for the detection of H7 avian influenza virus
Occurrence of viable avian influenza viruses in water and bed sediments from selected water bodies along the Atlantic Flyway, February and May 2006 and January 2007
Changes in West Nile virus seroprevalence and antibody titers among Wisconsin mesopredators 2003-2006
Evolutionary dynamics of Newcastle disease virus
Surveillance for high pathogenicity avian influenza virus in wild birds in the Pacific Flyway of the United States, 2006-2007
Science and Products
- Science
- Data
- Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 99
Evaluation of Nobuto filter paper strips for the detection of avian influenza virus antibody in waterfowl
The utility of using Nobuto paper strips for the detection of avian influenza antibodies was examined in mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) experimentally infected with low pathogenic avian influenza viruses. Blood was collected 2 wk after infection and was preserved either as serum or whole blood absorbed onto Nobuto strips. Analysis of samples using a commercially available blocking enzyme-linked immAuthorsRobert J. Dusek, Jeffrey S. Hall, Sean W. Nashold, Joshua L. Teslaa, Hon S. IpInfluence of body condition on influenza A virus infection in mallard ducks: Experimental infection data
Migrating waterfowl are implicated in the global spread of influenza A viruses (IAVs), and mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) are considered a particularly important IAV reservoir. Prevalence of IAV infection in waterfowl peaks during autumn pre-migration staging and then declines as birds reach wintering areas. Migration is energetically costly and birds often experience declines in body condition thaAuthorsDustin M. Arsnoe, Hon S. Ip, Jennifer C. OwenPrevalence and pathology of West Nile virus in naturally infected house sparrows, western Nebraska, 2008
Nestling birds are rarely sampled in the field for most arboviruses, yet they may be important in arbovirus amplification cycles. We sampled both nestling and adult house sparrows (Passer domesticus) in western Nebraska for West Nile virus (WNV) or WNV-specific antibodies throughout the summer of 2008 and describe pathology in naturally infected nestlings. Across the summer, 4% of nestling house sAuthorsValerie A. O'Brien, Carol U. Meteyer, William K. Reisen, Hon S. Ip, Charles R. BrownPathology and virus detection in tissues of nestling house sparrows naturally infected with Buggy Creek virus (Togaviridae).
Alphaviruses (Togaviridae) infect wild birds, but clinical illness and death attributable to virus in naturally infected birds is rarely reported, particularly for small passerine species or nestlings. Buggy Creek virus is a unique alphavirus in the Western equine encephalomyelitis virus (WEEV) complex that is vectored by the cimicid swallow bug (Oeciacus vicarius), an ectoparasite of the colonialAuthorsValerie A. O'Brien, Carol U. Meteyer, Hon S. Ip, Renee Romaine Long, Charles R. BrownIntercontinental reassortment and genomic variation of low pathogenic avian influenza viruses isolated from northern pintails (Anas acuta) in Alaska: examining the evidence through space and time
Migration and population genetic data for northern pintails (Anas acuta) and phylogenetic analysis of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses from this host in Alaska suggest that northern pintails are involved in ongoing intercontinental transmission of avian influenza. Here, we further refine this conclusion through phylogenetic analyses which demonstrate that detection of foreign lineageAuthorsAndrew M. Ramey, John M. Pearce, Paul L. Flint, Hon S. Ip, Dirk V. Derksen, J. Christian Franson, Michael J. Petrula, Bradley D. Scotton, Kristine M. Sowl, Michael L. Wege, Kimberly A. TrustTransmission and reassortment of avian influenza viruses at the Asian-North American interface
Twenty avian influenza viruses were isolated from seven wild migratory bird species sampled at St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. We tested predictions based on previous phylogenetic analyses of avian influenza viruses that support spatially dependent trans-hemispheric gene flow and frequent interspecies transmission at a location situated at the Asian–North American interface. Through the application oAuthorsAndrew M. Ramey, John M. Pearce, Craig R. Ely, Lisa M. Sheffield Guy, David B. Irons, Dirk V. Derksen, Hon S. IpLimited evidence of trans-hemispheric movement of avian influenza viruses among contemporary North American shorebird isolates
Migratory routes of gulls, terns, and shorebirds (Charadriiformes) are known to cross hemispheric boundaries and intersect with outbreak areas of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Prior assessments of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) among species of this taxonomic order found some evidence for trans-hemispheric movement of virus genes. To specifically clarify the role of shorebird spAuthorsJohn M. Pearce, Andrew M. Ramey, Hon S. Ip, Robert E. GillValidation of a real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR assay for the detection of H7 avian influenza virus
This report describes the validation of an avian influenza virus (AIV) H7 subtype-specific real-time reverse transcriptasePCR (rRT-PCR) assay developed at the Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory (SEPRL) for the detection of H7 AI in North and South American wild aquatic birds and poultry. The validation was a collaborative effort by the SEPRL and the National Veterinary Services Laboratories. ThAuthorsJ. Pedersen, M.L. Killian, N. Hines, D. Senne, B. Panigrahy, Hon S. Ip, Erica SpackmanOccurrence of viable avian influenza viruses in water and bed sediments from selected water bodies along the Atlantic Flyway, February and May 2006 and January 2007
Water and bed-sediment samples were collected from selected water bodies along the Atlantic Flyway and analyzed for the presence of viable avian influenza viruses. Samples were collected during February and May 2006 and January 2007 at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuges in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland. Avian influenza viruses were detected iAuthorsMelinda S. Dalton, Lisa M. Stewart, Hon S. IpChanges in West Nile virus seroprevalence and antibody titers among Wisconsin mesopredators 2003-2006
After the 2001 occurrence of West Nile virus (WNV) in Wisconsin (WI), we collected sera, during 2003–2006, from south-central WI mesopredators. We tested these sera to determine WNV antibody prevalence and geometric mean antibody titer (GMAT). Four-fold higher antibody prevalence and 2-fold higher GMAT in 2003–2004 indicated greater exposure of mesopredators to WNV during the apparent epizootic phAuthorsDouglas E. Docherty, Michael D. Samuel, Kristina F. Egstad, Kathryn M. Griffin, Cherrie A. Nolden, L. Karwal, Hon S. IpEvolutionary dynamics of Newcastle disease virus
A comprehensive dataset of NDV genome sequences was evaluated using bioinformatics to characterize the evolutionary forces affecting NDV genomes. Despite evidence of recombination in most genes, only one event in the fusion gene of genotype V viruses produced evolutionarily viable progenies. The codon-associated rate of change for the six NDV proteins revealed that the highest rate of change occurAuthorsP.J. Miller, L.M. Kim, Hon S. Ip, C.L. AfonsoSurveillance for high pathogenicity avian influenza virus in wild birds in the Pacific Flyway of the United States, 2006-2007
In 2006 the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Interior, and cooperating state fish and wildlife agencies began surveillance for high-pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus in wild birds in the Pacific Flyway of the United States. This surveillance effort was highly integrated in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and western Montana, with collecAuthorsRobert J. Dusek, J.B. Bortner, T.J. DeLiberto, J. Hoskins, J. Christian Franson, B.D. Bales, D. Yparraguirre, S.R. Swafford, Hon S. Ip - News
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government