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M. Camille Hopkins, DVM, MS, PhD

Camille is the Wildlife Disease Specialist for the Ecosystems Mission Area.

Education and Certifications

  • B.S.      Biology (Animal Physiology).  Cornell University

  • D.V.M.   Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.  Mississippi State University

  • M.S.      Veterinary Medical Sciences (Wildlife Epidemiology).  Mississippi State University

  • Ph.D.     Disease Ecology.  Virginia Tech

Science and Products

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The USGS One Health Approach to Wildlife Disease and Environmental Change

One Health is a collaborative approach – working at the local, regional, national, and global levels – with the goal of achieving optimal health...

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USGS Participates in USDA Highly Pathogenic (HP) Avian Influenza (AI) and Wild Birds Webinar Series

Several USGS scientists recently participated in a USDA Veterinary Services Training and Exercise Program (VSTEP) Webinar series on Highly Pathogenic...

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Multi-Partner Workshop Highlights Science Actions for a Potential Wildlife Disease Outbreak

A new USGS Open-File Report outlines findings from a scenario building workshop on a wildlife disease, facilitated by the Department of the Interior’s...

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Federal Interagency Microbiome Strategic Plan Released

As part of the White House’s National Microbiome Initiative, a Microbiome Interagency Working Group (MIWG) was formed in late 2016 with the charge of...

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Highly pathogenic avian influenza is an emerging disease threat to wild birds in North America

Prior to the emergence of the A/goose/Guangdong/1/1996 (Gs/GD) H5N1 influenza A virus, the long-held and well-supported paradigm was that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks were restricted to poultry, the result of cross-species transmission of precursor viruses from wild aquatic birds that subsequently gained pathogenicity in domestic birds. Therefore, management agencies typicall
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Ecosystems, Alaska Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Assessing the risks posed by SARS-CoV-2 in and via North American bats—Decision framing and rapid risk assessment

The novel β-coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, may pose a threat to North American bat populations if bats are exposed to the virus through interaction with humans, if the virus can subsequently infect bats and be transmitted among them, and if the virus causes morbidity or mortality in bats. Further, if SARS-CoV-2 became established in bat populations, it could possibly serve as a source for new infection
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Ecosystems, Fish & Wildlife Disease, Eastern Ecological Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Chronic wasting disease—Research by the U.S. Geological Survey and partners

IntroductionChronic wasting disease (CWD) is the only transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, a class of invariably fatal neurodegenerative mammalian diseases associated with a misfolded cellular prion protein found in wild free-ranging animals. Because it has a long incubation period, affected animals in Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”) may not show signs of disease for sever
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Ecosystems, Cooperative Research Units, Fish & Wildlife Disease, National Wildlife Health Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Office of Science Quality and Integrity

Batrachochytrium salamandriovrans (Bsal) in Appalachia—Using scenario building to proactively prepare for a wildlife disease outbreak caused by an invasive amphibian chytrid fungus

Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), a pathogenic chytrid fungus, is nonnative to the United States and poses a disease threat to vulnerable amphibian hosts. The Bsal fungus may lead to increases in threatened, endangered, and sensitive status listings at State, Tribal, and Federal levels, resulting in financial costs associated with implementing the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The United
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Ecosystems

U.S. Geological Survey response to chronic wasting disease

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is focused on the development of early detection and effective response tools that promote an adaptive management approach to chronic wasting disease (CWD). USGS scientists across the United States are working to understand the biology of CWD, assess and predict the spread and persistence in wildlife and the environment, and develop tools for early detection and c
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Ecosystems

Prepublication communication of research results

Publishing of scientific findings is central to the scientific process, and it is traditional to consider findings “provisional” until accepted by a peer-reviewed journal. Until publication, communication of provisional findings beyond participants in the study is typically limited. This practice helps assure scientific integrity. However, a dilemma arises when a provisional finding has urgent soc
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Ecosystems, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey response to white-nose syndrome in bats

OverviewSince its discovery in 2007, the fungal disease known as white-nose syndrome (WNS) has killed more than six million bats. Ten of 47 bat species have been affected by WNS across 32 States and 5 Canadian Provinces. The cold-growing fungus (Pseudogymnoascus destructans) that causes WNS infects skin covering the muzzle, ears, and wings of hibernating bats. The fungus erodes deep into the vital
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Ecosystems, Fish & Wildlife Disease, National Wildlife Health Center

Chronic wasting disease—Status, science, and management support by the U.S. Geological Survey

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) investigates chronic wasting disease (CWD) at multiple science centers and cooperative research units across the Nation and supports the management of CWD through science-based strategies. CWD research conducted by USGS scientists has three strategies: (1) to understand the biology, ecology, and causes and distribution of CWD; (2) to assess and predict the spread
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Ecosystems, Fish & Wildlife Disease, National Wildlife Health Center

USGS microbiome research

Microbiomes are the communities of microorganisms (for example, bacteria, viruses, and fungi) that live on, in, and around people, plants, animals, soil, water, and the atmosphere. Microbiomes are active in the functioning of diverse ecosystems, for instance, by influencing water quality, nutrient acquisition 
and stress tolerance in plants, and stability of soil and aquatic environments. Microbio
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Ecosystems

Salamander chytrid fungus (<i>Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans</i>) in the United States—Developing research, monitoring, and management strategies

The recently (2013) identified pathogenic chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), poses a severe threat to the distribution and abundance of salamanders within the United States and Europe. Development of a response strategy for the potential, and likely, invasion of Bsal into the United States is crucial to protect global salamander biodiversity. A formal working group, led by A
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Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center

USGS 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 p
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Ecosystems, Alaska Science Center

USGS 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 p
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Ecosystems, National Wildlife Health Center, Alaska Science Center

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