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
Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses and generation of novel reassortants,United States, 2014–2015
Role for migratory wild birds in the global spread of avian influenza H5N8
Fluid spatial dynamics of West Nile virus in the USA: Rapid spread in a permissive host environment
Discovery of a novel hepatovirus (Phopivirus of seals) related to human hepatitis A virus
Demographic and spatiotemporal patterns of avian influenza infection at the continental scale, and in relation to annual life cycle of a migratory host
Global trends in emerging viral diseases of wildlife origin
The dynamics of avian influenza in western Arctic snow geese: implications for annual and migratory infection patterns
Intercontinental spread of asian-origin H5N8 to North America through Beringia by migratory birds
Total protein concentration and diagnostic test results for gray wolf (Canis lupus) serum using Nobuto filter paper strips
Novel H5 clade 2.3.4.4 reassortant (H5N1) virus from a green-winged teal in Washington, USA
Novel Eurasian highly pathogenic avian influenza A H5 viruses in wild birds, Washington, USA, 2014
Cyclic avian mass mortality in the northeastern United States is associated with a novel orthomyxovirus
Science and Products
- Science
- Data
- Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 99
Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses and generation of novel reassortants,United States, 2014–2015
Asian highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N8) viruses spread into North America in 2014 during autumn bird migration. Complete genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of 32 H5 viruses identified novel H5N1, H5N2, and H5N8 viruses that emerged in late 2014 through reassortment with North American low-pathogenicity avian influenza viruses.AuthorsDong-Hun Lee, Justin Bahl, Mia Kim Torchetti, Mary Lea Killian, Hon S. Ip, David E SwayneRole for migratory wild birds in the global spread of avian influenza H5N8
Avian influenza viruses affect both poultry production and public health. A subtype H5N8 (clade 2.3.4.4) virus, following an outbreak in poultry in South Korea in January 2014, rapidly spread worldwide in 2014–2015. Our analysis of H5N8 viral sequences, epidemiological investigations, waterfowl migration, and poultry trade showed that long-distance migratory birds can play a major role in the globAuthorsHon S. IpFluid spatial dynamics of West Nile virus in the USA: Rapid spread in a permissive host environment
The introduction of West Nile virus (WNV) into North America in 1999 is a classical example of viral emergence in a new environment, with its subsequent dispersion across the continent having a major impact on local bird populations. Despite the importance of this epizootic, the pattern, dynamics and determinants of WNV spread in its natural hosts remain uncertain. In particular, it is unclear wheAuthorsFrancesca Di Giallonardo, Jemma L. Geoghegan, Douglas E. Docherty, Robert G. McLean, Michael C. Zody, James Qu, Xiao Yang, Bruce W. Birren, Christine M. Malboeuf, R. Newman, Hon S. Ip, Edward C. HolmesDiscovery of a novel hepatovirus (Phopivirus of seals) related to human hepatitis A virus
Describing the viral diversity of wildlife can provide interesting and useful insights into the natural history of established human pathogens. In this study, we describe a previously unknown picornavirus in harbor seals (tentatively named phopivirus) that is related to human hepatitis A virus (HAV). We show that phopivirus shares several genetic and phenotypic characteristics with HAV, includingAuthorsAnthony. S.J., J.A St. Leger, E. Liang, A.L. Hicks, M.D Sanchez-Leon, Hon S. Ip, K. Jain, J. H. Lefkowitch, I. Navarrete-Macias, N. Knowles, T. Goldstein, K. Pugliares, T. Rowles, W.I. LipkinDemographic and spatiotemporal patterns of avian influenza infection at the continental scale, and in relation to annual life cycle of a migratory host
Since the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in the eastern hemisphere, numerous surveillance programs and studies have been undertaken to detect the occurrence, distribution, or spread of avian influenza viruses (AIV) in wild bird populations worldwide. To identify demographic determinants and spatiotemporal patterns of AIV infection in long distance migratory waterfowl in NoAuthorsRodolfo Nallar, Zsuzsanna Papp, Tasha Epp, Frederick A. Leighton, Seth R. Swafford, Thomas J. DeLiberto, Robert J. Dusek, Hon S. Ip, Jeffrey S. Hall, Yohannes Berhane, Samantha E. J. Gibbs, Catherine SoosGlobal trends in emerging viral diseases of wildlife origin
Fifty years ago, infectious diseases were rarely considered threats to wildlife populations, and the study of wildlife diseases was largely a neglected endeavor. Furthermore, public health leaders at that time had declared that “it is time to close the book on infectious diseases and the war against pestilence won,” a quote attributed to Dr. William H. Stewart in 1967. There is some debate whetherAuthorsJonathan M. Sleeman, Hon S. IpThe dynamics of avian influenza in western Arctic snow geese: implications for annual and migratory infection patterns
Wild water birds are the natural reservoir for low-pathogenic avian influenza viruses (AIV). However, our ability to investigate the epizootiology of AIV in these migratory populations is challenging, and despite intensive worldwide surveillance, remains poorly understood. We conducted a cross-sectional, retrospective analysis in Pacific Flyway lesser snow geese Chen caerulescens to investigate AIAuthorsMichael D. Samuel, Jeffrey S. Hall, Justin D. Brown, Diana R. Goldberg, Hon S. Ip, Vasily V. BaranyukIntercontinental spread of asian-origin H5N8 to North America through Beringia by migratory birds
Phylogenetic network analysis and understanding of waterfowl migration patterns suggest the Eurasian H5N8 clade 2.3.4.4 avian influenza virus emerged in late 2013 in China, spread in early 2014 to South Korea and Japan, and reached Siberia and Beringia by summer 2014 via migratory birds. Three genetically distinct subgroups emerged and subsequently spread along different flyways during fall 2014 iAuthorsDong-Hun Lee, Mia Kim Torchetti, Kevin Winker, Hon S. Ip, David E. Swayne, Chang-Seon SongTotal protein concentration and diagnostic test results for gray wolf (Canis lupus) serum using Nobuto filter paper strips
Nobuto filter paper strips are widely used for storing blood-serum samples, but the recovery of proteins from these strips following rehydration is unknown. Poor recovery of proteins could reduce the concentration of antibodies and antigens and reduce the sensitivity of diagnostic assays. We compared the protein concentration, and its association with test sensitivity, of eluted Nobuto strip samplAuthorsRocio F. Jara, Carolina Sepúlveda, Hon S. Ip, Michael D. SamuelNovel H5 clade 2.3.4.4 reassortant (H5N1) virus from a green-winged teal in Washington, USA
Eurasian (EA)-origin H5N8 clade 2.3.4.4 avian influenza viruses were first detected in North America during December 2014. Subsequent reassortment with North American (AM) low-pathogenic wild-bird-origin avian influenza has generated at least two reassortants, including an EA/AM H5N1 from an apparently healthy wild green-winged teal, suggesting continued ongoing reassortment.AuthorsMia Kim Torchetti, Mary-Lea Killian, Robert J. Dusek, Janice C. Pedersen, Nichole Hines, Barbara L. Bodenstein, C. LeAnn White, Hon S. IpNovel Eurasian highly pathogenic avian influenza A H5 viruses in wild birds, Washington, USA, 2014
Novel Eurasian lineage avian influenza A(H5N8) virus has spread rapidly and globally since January 2014. In December 2014, H5N8 and reassortant H5N2 viruses were detected in wild birds in Washington, USA, and subsequently in backyard birds. When they infect commercial poultry, these highly pathogenic viruses pose substantial trade issues.AuthorsHon S. Ip, Mia Kim Torchetti, Rocio Crespo, Paul Kohrs, Paul DeBruyn, Kristin G. Mansfield, Timothy Baszler, Lyndon Badcoe, Barbara L. Bodenstein, Valerie I. Shearn-Bochsler, Mary L. Killian, Janice C. Pederson, Nichole Hines, Thomas Gidlewski, Thomas J. DeLiberto, Jonathan M. SleemanCyclic avian mass mortality in the northeastern United States is associated with a novel orthomyxovirus
Since 1998, cyclic mortality events in common eiders (Somateria mollissima), numbering in the hundreds to thousands of dead birds, have been documented along the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA. Although longitudinal disease investigations have uncovered potential contributing factors responsible for these outbreaks, detecting a primary etiological agent has proven enigmatic. Here we identifAuthorsAndrew B. Allison, Jennifer R. Ballard, Robert B. Tesh, Justin D. Brown, Mark G. Ruder, M. Kevin Keel, Brandon A. Munk, Randall M. Mickley, Samantha E. J. Gibbs, Julie C. Ellis, Amelia P.A. Travassos da Rosac, Hon S. Ip, Valerie I. Shearn-Bochsler, Matthew B. Rogers, Elodie Gheldin, Edward C. Holmes, Colin R. Parrish, Chris P. Dwyer - 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