Maureen K Purcell, Ph.D.
I have been a scientist with the USGS since 2005. I was a microbiologist and then the Fish Health Section Chief at the Western Fisheries Research Center, and am now the Deputy Center Director of the Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center.
Prior to joining FRESC's management team, I led a team of 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.
Professional Experience
2022 - Present: Deputy Center Director, U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, OR
2017 - 2022: Chief, Fish Health Section, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA
2014 - Present: Affiliate Associate Professor, Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
2008 - 2016: Research Microbiologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA
2005 - 2008: Microbiologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA
1999 - 2000: Contractor, NOAA Fisheries, Northwest Fishery Science Center, Seattle, WA
1997 - 1999: Professional Research Assistant, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 2005. Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
M.S. 1997. Zoology, University of Maine, Orono, ME
B.S. 1993. Zoology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Fisheries Society - Fish Health Section
European Association of Fish Pathologists
Associate Editor - Journal of Aquatic Animal Health
Editorial Board - Fish and Shellfish Immunology
Editorial Board - Journal of Virological Methods
Honors and Awards
2016 - Presidential Early Career Service Award for Scientists and Engineers
2012 - U.S. Geological Survey, Western States Diversity Award group award to Fish Health Section
2012 - American Fisheries Society, Most significant paper in Journal of Aquatic Animal Health
2009 - U.S. Geological Survey, Best Professional Paper in Biology by a New Scientist
2008 - American Fisheries Society, Most significant paper in Journal of Aquatic Animal Health
2004 - Faculty Merit Award, U.W. School of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences
Science and Products
AquaDePTH-Aquatic Disease and Pathogen Repository
Partners - FHP
Fish Health Program Lead Scientists and Areas of Expertise
Species Studied by the Fish Health Program
Tribal Collaboration - Fish Health Program (FHP)
Herring Disease Program
Detection Protocols - Renibacterium salmoninarum
Ichthyobodo - FHP
Research on Emerging Viruses of Salmonids - FHP
Emerging Viruses - FHP
Nucleospora Salmonis - FHP
Whirling Disease - FHP
Entry and spread of specialist and generalist infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) genotypes in Chinook salmon, steelhead and sockeye salmon
Detections, Physical Captures, Water Quality, and Fish Health associated with Endangered Suckers in Three Net Pens in Upper Klamath Lake, 2020
Analytical and diagnostic validation of a molecular test to detect and discriminate IHNV genogroups U and M
Histological and molecular testing of nuclear inclusion X in Pacific Razor clams from select locations in Washington, USA
Spatial and temporal survey of waterborne myxozoan parasites in the Lake Sammamish watershed, Washington, from 2019 - 2021
Survival, viral load and neutralizing antibodies in steelhead trout and cell cultures exposed to infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) at 3 temperatures
Data from 2018 Experiment on Effects of Temperature on Survival and Growth of Juvenile Lost River Suckers (Deltistes luxatus) naturally exposed to Ichthyobodo spp
Nuclear inclusion X testing of Pacific Razor clams from select locations in Washington and Alaska
Laboratory exposure of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), coho salmon (O. kisutch) and rainbow trout (O. mykiss) to a Pacific Canadian strain of piscine orthoreovirus genotype one (PRV-1)
Final Dataset: Molecular testing of adult Pacific salmon and trout (Oncorhynchus spp.) for several RNA viruses demonstrates widespread distribution of piscine orthoreovirus (PRV) in Alaska and Washington
Genome-wide association analysis of the resistance to infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus in two rainbow trout aquaculture lines confirms oligogenic architecture with several moderate effect quantitative trait loci
Local and systemic replicative fitness for viruses in specialist, generalist, and non-specialist interactions with salmonid hosts
Evaluating the effect of nuclear inclusion X (NIX) infections on Pacific razor clam populations
Variation in within-host replication kinetics among virus genotypes provides evidence of specialist and generalist infection strategies across three salmonid host species
A phylogeny based on cytochrome-c oxidase gene sequences identifies sympatric Ichthyophonus genotypes in the NE Pacific Ocean
Rapid diagnostic test to detect and discriminate infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) genogroups U and M to aid management of Pacific Northwest salmonid populations
Disruption of the Francisella noatunensis orientalis pdpA gene results in virulence attenuation and protection in zebrafish
Herring Disease Program - Annual Project Report 2012011-E, February 1, 2010-January 31, 2021
Temperature variation and host immunity regulate viral persistence in a salmonid host
Environmental variation has important effects on host–pathogen interactions, affecting large-scale ecological processes such as the severity and frequency of epidemics. However, less is known about how the environment interacts with host immunity to modulate virus fitness within hosts. Here, we studied the interaction between host immune responses and water temperature on the long-term persistence
Long-term shedding from fully convalesced individuals indicates that Pacific herring are a reservoir for viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus
Differential susceptibility of Yukon River and Salish Sea stocks of Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha to ichthyophoniasis
Effect of temperature on survival of Lost River Suckers with a natural infection of Ichthyobodo spp.
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
AquaDePTH-Aquatic Disease and Pathogen Repository
Partners - FHP
Fish Health Program Lead Scientists and Areas of Expertise
Species Studied by the Fish Health Program
Tribal Collaboration - Fish Health Program (FHP)
Herring Disease Program
Detection Protocols - Renibacterium salmoninarum
Ichthyobodo - FHP
Research on Emerging Viruses of Salmonids - FHP
Emerging Viruses - FHP
Nucleospora Salmonis - FHP
Whirling Disease - FHP
Entry and spread of specialist and generalist infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) genotypes in Chinook salmon, steelhead and sockeye salmon
Detections, Physical Captures, Water Quality, and Fish Health associated with Endangered Suckers in Three Net Pens in Upper Klamath Lake, 2020
Analytical and diagnostic validation of a molecular test to detect and discriminate IHNV genogroups U and M
Histological and molecular testing of nuclear inclusion X in Pacific Razor clams from select locations in Washington, USA
Spatial and temporal survey of waterborne myxozoan parasites in the Lake Sammamish watershed, Washington, from 2019 - 2021
Survival, viral load and neutralizing antibodies in steelhead trout and cell cultures exposed to infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) at 3 temperatures
Data from 2018 Experiment on Effects of Temperature on Survival and Growth of Juvenile Lost River Suckers (Deltistes luxatus) naturally exposed to Ichthyobodo spp
Nuclear inclusion X testing of Pacific Razor clams from select locations in Washington and Alaska
Laboratory exposure of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), coho salmon (O. kisutch) and rainbow trout (O. mykiss) to a Pacific Canadian strain of piscine orthoreovirus genotype one (PRV-1)
Final Dataset: Molecular testing of adult Pacific salmon and trout (Oncorhynchus spp.) for several RNA viruses demonstrates widespread distribution of piscine orthoreovirus (PRV) in Alaska and Washington
Genome-wide association analysis of the resistance to infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus in two rainbow trout aquaculture lines confirms oligogenic architecture with several moderate effect quantitative trait loci
Local and systemic replicative fitness for viruses in specialist, generalist, and non-specialist interactions with salmonid hosts
Evaluating the effect of nuclear inclusion X (NIX) infections on Pacific razor clam populations
Variation in within-host replication kinetics among virus genotypes provides evidence of specialist and generalist infection strategies across three salmonid host species
A phylogeny based on cytochrome-c oxidase gene sequences identifies sympatric Ichthyophonus genotypes in the NE Pacific Ocean
Rapid diagnostic test to detect and discriminate infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) genogroups U and M to aid management of Pacific Northwest salmonid populations
Disruption of the Francisella noatunensis orientalis pdpA gene results in virulence attenuation and protection in zebrafish
Herring Disease Program - Annual Project Report 2012011-E, February 1, 2010-January 31, 2021
Temperature variation and host immunity regulate viral persistence in a salmonid host
Environmental variation has important effects on host–pathogen interactions, affecting large-scale ecological processes such as the severity and frequency of epidemics. However, less is known about how the environment interacts with host immunity to modulate virus fitness within hosts. Here, we studied the interaction between host immune responses and water temperature on the long-term persistence
Long-term shedding from fully convalesced individuals indicates that Pacific herring are a reservoir for viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus
Differential susceptibility of Yukon River and Salish Sea stocks of Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha to ichthyophoniasis
Effect of temperature on survival of Lost River Suckers with a natural infection of Ichthyobodo spp.
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
*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