Jim works with scientists, technicians, post-doctoral researchers, graduate students and visiting scientists working to improve methods for the detection of fish pathogens, determine factors affecting the epidemiology of fish diseases, and develop novel control strategies for reducing losses among both hatchery-reared and wild fish.
Research Interests
Infectious diseases of fish, fish cell and tissue culture, molecular taxonomy and epidemiology of fish pathogens, ecology of fish diseases in wild populations.
Mentorship/Outreach
- 1995 to Present - Professor (Affiliate Faculty), University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Seattle, WA
- 1983-1986 - Assistant Professor, Oregon State University, Department of Microbiology, Corvallis, OR
Professional Experience
2017 to Present - Senior Scientists, Emeritus
1996-2017 - Chief, Fish Health Section, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA
1995 to Present - Professor (Affiliate Faculty), University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Seattle, WA
1986-1996 - Project Leader, Infectious Diseases of Fish. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA
1983-1986 - Assistant Professor, Oregon State University, Department of Microbiology, Corvallis, OR
1984 to Present - Canadian Fish Health Official - International shipments of salmonid fish and gametes
1981 to Present - U.S. Title 50 Inspector - International shipments of salmonid fish and gametes
2010 - Pacific Salmon Commission - Invited expert to panel investigating Fraser River sockeye declines
1991-2000 - Office International des Epizooties (OIE), Paris - Elected to Fish Diseases Commission
1990-2003 - American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) - Animal Virus Advisory Group
1988-2000 - International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) - Reovirus Study Group
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 1981. Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
B.A. 1967. University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Society for Microbiology
American Fisheries Society
European Association of Fish Pathologists
Japanese Society of Fish Pathologists
Wildlife Disease Association
Honors and Awards
2015 - Senior Scientist – U.S. Geological Survey
2006 - Department of Interior Distinguished Service Award
2000 - American Fisheries Society Fish Health Section S. F. Snieszko Distinguished Service Award
1999 - Department of Interior Meritorious Service Award
Science and Products
Newly Discovered Picornavirus Spread by Baitfish
Pufferfish mortality data
Susceptibility of Pallid Sturgeon to viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus genotype IVb
Effects of stocking density on stress response and susceptibility to infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus in rainbow trout
Pacific herring Clupea pallasii are not susceptible to vibriosis from Vibrio anguillarum or V. ordalii under laboratory conditions
Consequences of Piscine orthoreovirus genotype 1 (PRV‐1) infections in Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ), coho salmon (O. kisutch ) and rainbow trout (O. mykiss )
Increased prespawning mortality threatens an integrated natural- and hatchery-origin sockeye salmon population in the Lake Washington Basin
Effect of growth rate on transcriptomic responses to immune stimulation in wild-type, domesticated, and GH-transgenic coho salmon
Complete genome sequences of the index isolates of two genotypes of Pacific salmon paramyxovirus
Development and characterization of two cell lines from gills of Atlantic salmon
Molecular testing of adult Pacific salmon and trout (Oncorhynchus spp.) for several RNA viruses demonstrates widespread distribution of piscine orthoreovirus in Alaska and Washington
A systematic surveillance programme for infectious salmon anaemia virus supports its absence in the Pacific Northwest of the United States
Isolation and characterization of the fall Chinook aquareovirus
Analytical validation of a reverse transcriptase droplet digital PCR (RT-ddPCR) for quantitative detection of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus
Science and Products
- Science
Newly Discovered Picornavirus Spread by Baitfish
Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) contributed to a publication that reports the complete gene sequence of a novel picornavirus isolated from minnows and baitfish in several areas of the United States. The scientists used the molecular sequence and characterization of this virus to determine the evolutionary (phylogenetic) placement in the "family tree" of known fish viruses. The... - Data
Pufferfish mortality data
In 2010, a mass mortality of pufferfish in Hawaii was dominated by Arothron hispidus showing aberrant neurological behaviors. Using pathology, toxinology, and field surveys, we implicated a series of novel, polar, marine toxins as a likely cause of this mass mortality. Our findings are striking in that 1) a marine toxin was associated with a kill of a fish species that is, itself, toxic; 2) we - Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 164
Susceptibility of Pallid Sturgeon to viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus genotype IVb
ObjectiveViral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) is an aquatic rhabdovirus causing severe disease in freshwater and saltwater fish species. The susceptibility of endangered Pallid Sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus to VHSV genotype IVb (VHSV-IVb) infection was investigated.MethodsAn in vitro assessment using two Pallid Sturgeon cell lines derived from skin and spleen tissue and in vivo evaluation ofAuthorsLacey R. Hopper, Jolene A. Glenn, Elizabeth MacConnell, James Winton, Eveline J. EmmeneggerEffects of stocking density on stress response and susceptibility to infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus in rainbow trout
The goals of this study were to examine the effect of stocking density on the stress response and disease susceptibility in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Fish were sorted into one of 2 stocking densities (high density "HD", 20-40 kg/m3) or (low density, "LD", 4-8 kg/m3) and 3 stress indices (cortisol levels in serum and water, and neutrophil: lymphocyte (N:L) ratios from blood smeaAuthorsJenna J Klug, Piper M Treuting, George E. Sanders, James Winton, Gael KurathPacific herring Clupea pallasii are not susceptible to vibriosis from Vibrio anguillarum or V. ordalii under laboratory conditions
The ubiquity of Vibrio spp. throughout the coastal marine waters of the Pacific Northwest of North America raises questions about the susceptibility of native marine fishes, including Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii). Early reports of Vibriolike disease (Rucker et al., 1954; Walford, 1958) and Vibrio sp. isolations (Pacha & Kiehn, 1969) in Pacific herring remain questionable because both occurredAuthorsPaul Hershberger, M.E.T Stinson, Brenda L Hall, Ashley MacKenzie, Jacob L. Gregg, William August Richards, James WintonConsequences of Piscine orthoreovirus genotype 1 (PRV‐1) infections in Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ), coho salmon (O. kisutch ) and rainbow trout (O. mykiss )
Piscine orthoreovirus genotype 1 (PRV‐1) is the causative agent of heart and skeletal muscle inflammation (HSMI) in farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). The virus has also been found in Pacific salmonids in western North America, raising concerns about the risk to native salmon and trout. Here, we report the results of laboratory challenges using juvenile Chinook salmon, coho salmon and rainboAuthorsMaureen K. Purcell, Rachel L. Powers, Torunn Taksdal, Douglas Mckenney, Carla M. Conway, Diane G. Elliott, Mark Polinski, Kyle A. Garver, James WintonIncreased prespawning mortality threatens an integrated natural- and hatchery-origin sockeye salmon population in the Lake Washington Basin
The life cycle of diadromous fishes such as salmonids involves natural mortality in a series of distinct life history stages, occurring sequentially in different habitats. Decades of research have emphasized mortality at the embryo, juvenile, and sub-adult stages but it is increasingly clear that some adults that survive and return to freshwater habitats die during the final homeward migration orAuthorsHeidy K Barnett, Thomas P. Quinn, Mary Bhuthimethee, James WintonEffect of growth rate on transcriptomic responses to immune stimulation in wild-type, domesticated, and GH-transgenic coho salmon
Background Transcriptomic responses to immune stimulation were investigated in coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) with distinct growth phenotypes. Wild-type fish were contrasted to strains with accelerated growth arising either from selective breeding (i.e. domestication) or genetic modification. Such distinct routes to accelerated growth may have unique implications for relationships and/or tradeAuthorsJin-Hyoung Kim, Daniel J Macqueen, James Winton, John D. Hansen, Hyun Park, Robert H DevlinComplete genome sequences of the index isolates of two genotypes of Pacific salmon paramyxovirus
We report here the genome sequences of two index strains of Pacific salmon paramyxovirus isolated in 1982 and 1983 from adult salmon in Oregon. The isolates are most closely related to Atlantic salmon paramyxovirus, the type species of the genus Aquaparamyxovirus, but are sufficiently distinct to be considered two genotypes of a novel species.AuthorsJames Winton, William N. Batts, Rachel L. Powers, Maureen K. PurcellDevelopment and characterization of two cell lines from gills of Atlantic salmon
Gill disease in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., causes big losses in the salmon farming industry. Until now, tools to cultivate microorganisms causing gill disease and models to study the gill responses have been lacking. Here we describe the establishment and characterization of two cell lines from the gills of Atlantic salmon. Atlantic salmon gill cell ASG-10 consisted of cells staining for cytAuthorsMona C. Gjessing, Maria Aamelfot, William N. Batts, Sylvie L. Benestad, Ole B. Dale, Even Thoen, Simon C. Weli, James R. WintonMolecular testing of adult Pacific salmon and trout (Oncorhynchus spp.) for several RNA viruses demonstrates widespread distribution of piscine orthoreovirus in Alaska and Washington
This research was initiated in conjunction with a systematic, multiagency surveillance effort in the United States (U.S.) in response to reported findings of infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV) RNA in British Columbia, Canada. In the systematic surveillance study reported in a companion paper, tissues from various salmonids taken from Washington and Alaska were surveyed for ISAV RNA using the UAuthorsMaureen K. Purcell, Rachel L. Thompson, Joy Evered, John Kerwin, Ted R. Meyers, Bruce Stewart, James WintonA systematic surveillance programme for infectious salmon anaemia virus supports its absence in the Pacific Northwest of the United States
In response to reported findings of infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV) in British Columbia (BC), Canada, in 2011, U.S. national, state and tribal fisheries managers and fish health specialists developed and implemented a collaborative ISAV surveillance plan for the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Accordingly, over a 3-1/2-year period, 4,962 salmonids were sampled and successfullAuthorsLori L. Gustafson, Lynn H. Creekmore, Kevin R. Snekvik, Jayde A. Ferguson, Janet V. Warg, Marilyn Blair, Theodore R. Meyers, Bruce Stewart, Kenneth I. Warheit, John Kerwin, Andrew E. Goodwin, Linda D. Rhodes, Janet E. Whaley, Maureen K. Purcell, Collette Bentz, Desiree Shasa, Joel Bader, James R. WintonIsolation and characterization of the fall Chinook aquareovirus
BackgroundSalmon are paramount to the economy, ecology, and history of the Pacific Northwest. Viruses constitute one of the major threats to salmon health and well-being, with more than twenty known virus species that infect salmon. Here, we describe the isolation and characterization of the fall Chinook aquareovirus, a divergent member of the species Aquareovirus B within the family Reoviridae.MeAuthorsNegar Makhsous, Nicole L. Jensen, Katherine H. Haman, William N. Batts, Keith R. Jerome, James Winton, Alexander L. GreningerAnalytical validation of a reverse transcriptase droplet digital PCR (RT-ddPCR) for quantitative detection of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus
Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) is an important pathogen of salmonid fishes. A validated universal reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assay that can quantify levels of IHNV in fish tissues has been previously reported. In the present study, we adapted the published set of IHNV primers and probe for use in a reverse-transcriptase droplet digital PCR (RT-ddPCR) assay forAuthorsPeng Jia, Maureen K. Purcell, Guang Pan, Jinjin Wang, Shifu Kan, Yin Liu, Xiaocong Zheng, Xiujie SHi, Junqiang He, Li Yu, Qunyi Hua, Tikang Lu, Wensheng Lan, James Winton, Ningyi Jin, Hong Liu - 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