Jonathan Sleeman
Jonathan Sleeman is a Science Advisor for the Midcontinent Region.
Dr. Sleeman leads a team to advance wildlife health science for the benefit of animals, humans, and the environment through multidisciplinary research and technical assistance to federal, state, and tribal agencies as well as internationally as a World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Collaborating Centre. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Wisconsin, School of Veterinary Medicine. He has authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications and several book chapters all on the topics of wildlife and ecosystem health. He is active in various scientific organizations, including the Wildlife Disease Association and Ecohealth International, and serves on the OIE’s Working Group on Wildlife. He is board certified by the American College of Zoological Medicine and received his veterinary degree and master’s degree in zoology from the University of Cambridge, England. Previous positions include Director of the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Center in Rwanda and Wildlife Veterinarian for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
Professional Experience
May 2009 - June 2023 Center Director, USGS, National Wildlife Health Center
Aug. 2015 - Present Adjunct Professor, Seoul National University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul, Korea
Sept. 2009 - Present Adjunct Professor, Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin
March 2005 - May 2009 Wildlife Veterinarian, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
Sept. 2003 - Present Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee
Aug. 2001 - Oct. 2009 Adjunct Professor, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic and State University
Feb. 2001 - March 2005 Director of Veterinary Services, Wildlife Center of Virginia
Nov. 1997 - June 2000 Postdoctoral Fellow/Clinical Instructor, Zoological and Wildlife Medicine, Colorado State University
June 1997 - Feb. 1998 Interim Project Director, Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project, Morris Animal Foundation
May 1997 - Oct. 1997 Clinical Instructor/Senior Veterinarian for Knoxville Zoo, Zoological Medicine, The University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine
July 1995 - April 1997 Field Director, Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Center, Kigali, Rwanda
Education and Certifications
2004 Master of Arts, Zoology, Churchill College, University of Cambridge
1997-2000 Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates Certification (DVM equivalency), American Veterinary Medical Association
1989-1992 Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (Distinction in Pathology, Microbiology and Avian Medicine), University of Cambridge, Department of Veterinary Medicine
1986-1989 Bachelor of Arts, Zoology (Awarded first class honours), Churchill College, University of Cambridge
Special Zoological Medicine Training
1993-1995 Resident, Avian and Zoological Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Tennessee
1992-1993 Intern, Exotic/Zoological Medicine, Coll
Science and Products
Retrospective analysis of the epidemiologic literature, 1990–2015, on wildlife-associated diseases from the Republic of Korea
U.S. Geological Survey science strategy for highly pathogenic avian influenza in wildlife and the environment (2016–2020)
Widespread detection of highly pathogenic H5 influenza viruses in wild birds from the Pacific Flyway of the United States
High rates of detection of Clade 2.3.4.4 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5 viruses in wild birds in the Pacific Northwest during the winter of 2014-2015
USGS highly pathogenic avian influenza research strategy
USGS role and response to highly pathogenic avian influenza
Global trends in emerging viral diseases of wildlife origin
Novel Eurasian highly pathogenic avian influenza A H5 viruses in wild birds, Washington, USA, 2014
Great Apes
Making One Health a reality: Crossing bureaucratic boundaries
Book review: Fowler's zoo and wild animal medicine (volume 8)
Has the time come for big science in wildlife health?
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 46
Retrospective analysis of the epidemiologic literature, 1990–2015, on wildlife-associated diseases from the Republic of Korea
To assess the status of research on wildlife diseases in the Republic of Korea (ROK) and to identify trends, knowledge gaps, and directions for future research, we reviewed epidemiologic publications on wildlife-associated diseases in the ROK. We identified a relatively small but rapidly increasing body of literature. The majority of publications were focused on public or livestock health and relaAuthorsJusun Hwang, Kyunglee Lee, Young-Jun Kim, Jonathan M. Sleeman, Hang LeeU.S. Geological Survey science strategy for highly pathogenic avian influenza in wildlife and the environment (2016–2020)
IntroductionThrough the Science Strategy for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Wildlife and the Environment, the USGS will assess avian influenza (AI) dynamics in an ecological context to inform decisions made by resource managers and policymakers from the local to national level. Through collection of unbiased scientific information on the ecology of AI viruses and wildlife hosts in a cAuthorsM. Camille Harris, John M. Pearce, Diann J. Prosser, C. LeAnn White, A. Keith Miles, Jonathan M. Sleeman, Christopher J. Brand, James P. Cronin, Susan De La Cruz, Christine L. Densmore, Thomas W. Doyle, Robert J. Dusek, Joseph P. Fleskes, Paul L. Flint, Gerald F. Guala, Jeffrey S. Hall, Laura E. Hubbard, Randall J. Hunt, Hon S. Ip, Rachel A. Katz, Kevin W. Laurent, Mark P. Miller, Mark D. Munn, Andrew M. Ramey, Kevin D. Richards, Robin E. Russell, Joel P. Stokdyk, John Y. Takekawa, Daniel P. WalshWidespread detection of highly pathogenic H5 influenza viruses in wild birds from the Pacific Flyway of the United States
A novel highly pathogenic avian influenza virus belonging to the H5 clade 2.3.4.4 variant viruses was detected in North America in late 2014. Motivated by the identification of these viruses in domestic poultry in Canada, an intensive study was initiated to conduct highly pathogenic avian influenza surveillance in wild birds in the Pacific Flyway of the United States. A total of 4,729 hunter-harveAuthorsS.N. Bevins, Robert J. Dusek, C. LeAnn White, Thomas Gidlewski, B. Bodenstein, Kristin G. Mansfield, Paul DeBruyn, Donald K. Kraege, E. L. Rowan, Colin Gillin, B. Thomas, S. Chandler, J. Baroch, B. Schmit, M. J. Grady, R. S. Miller, M.L. Drew, S. Stopak, B. Zscheile, J. Bennett, J. Sengl, Caroline Brady, Hon S. Ip, Erica Spackman, M. L. Killian, Mia Kim Torchetti, Jonathan M. Sleeman, T.J. DeLibertoHigh rates of detection of Clade 2.3.4.4 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5 viruses in wild birds in the Pacific Northwest during the winter of 2014-2015
In 2014, Clade 2.3.4.4 H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses spread across the Republic of Korea and ultimately were reported in China, Japan, Russia and Europe. Mortality associated with a reassortant HPAI H5N2 virus was detected in poultry farms in Western Canada at the end of November. The same strain (with identical genetic structure) was then detected in free-living wild birdsAuthorsHon S. Ip, Robert J. Dusek, Barbara L. Bodenstein, Mia Kim Torchetti, Paul DeBruyn, Kristin G. Mansfield, Thomas J. DeLiberto, Jonathan M. SleemanUSGS highly pathogenic avian influenza research strategy
Avian influenza viruses are naturally occurring in wild birds such as ducks, geese, swans, and gulls. These viruses generally do not cause illness in wild birds, however, when spread to poultry they can be highly pathogenic and cause illness and death in backyard and commercial farms. Outbreaks may cause devastating agricultural economic losses and some viral strains have the potential to infect pAuthorsM. Camille Harris, A. Keith Miles, John M. Pearce, Diann J. Prosser, Jonathan M. Sleeman, Mary E. WhalenUSGS role and response to highly pathogenic avian influenza
Avian influenza viruses are naturally occurring in wild birds such as ducks, geese, swans, and gulls. These viruses generally do not cause illness in wild birds, however, when spread to poultry they can be highly pathogenic and cause illness and death in backyard and commercial farms. Outbreaks may cause devastating agricultural economic losses and some viral strains have the potential to infect pAuthorsM. Camille Harris, A. Keith Miles, John M. Pearce, Diann J. Prosser, Jonathan M. Sleeman, Mary E. WhalenGlobal 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. 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. SleemanGreat Apes
Anesthesia of great apes is often necessary to conduct diagnostic analysis, provide therapeutics, facilitate surgical procedures, and enable transport and translocation for conservation purposes. Due to the stress of remote delivery injection of anesthetic agents, recent studies have focused on oral delivery and/or transmucosal absorption of preanesthetic and anesthetic agents. Maintenance of theAuthorsJonathan M. Sleeman, Shannon CervenyMaking One Health a reality: Crossing bureaucratic boundaries
A One Health approach that achieves optimal outcomes requires that nontraditional partners come to a common table to identify solutions that transcend organization-specific mandates. This collaboration requires individuals to go beyond their accustomed comfort zones and function on teams with partners who very likely come from unfamiliar organizational, disciplinary, and even national cultures. EaAuthorsCarol Rubin, Bernadette Dunham, Jonathan SleemanBook review: Fowler's zoo and wild animal medicine (volume 8)
In the eighth volume of Fowler's Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine, the editors have returned to the original, comprehensive, taxa-based format last used in the fifth volume that was released in 2003. The book consists of 82 chapters, divided into taxonomic classes that include amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, and a general topics section. The editors deliberately selected new senior authors wAuthorsJonathan M. SleemanHas the time come for big science in wildlife health?
The consequences of wildlife emerging diseases are global and profound with increased burden on the public health system, negative impacts on the global economy, declines and extinctions of wildlife species, and subsequent loss of ecological integrity. Examples of health threats to wildlife include Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, which causes a cutaneous fungal infection of amphibians and is linkeAuthorsJonathan M. Sleeman