Paul Hershberger, Ph.D.
Paul Hershberger is the Chief of the Fish Heath Section at the U. S. Geological Survey - Western Fisheries Research Center (Seattle, WA) and the Station Leader at the Marrowstone Marine Field Station (Nordland, WA). He is an Affiliate Professor at the University of Washington – School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, and former President of the Fish Health Section - American Fisheries Society.
Paul has the pleasure of leading a team of fish health professionals who are experts in their respective fields of fish virology, immunology, toxicology, histopathology, parasitology, and disease ecology. Specific components of the Fish Health Section focus on:
- the development of immune-related tools for fishes and the impact(s) of environmental stressors (e.g. contaminants, pathogens, temperature) on the fish immune response.
- the use of gene knock outs in zebrafish and other model species to assess pathogen virulence and host immune response mechanisms.
- the evolution of virulence and other phenotypes in fish viruses using landscape-scale genotyping to identify patterns of virus occurrence, transmission, and disease impacts across borad temporal and geographic scales.
- the discovery and identification of new and emerging fish viruses in the Pacific Northwest and throughout North America.
- the integration of novel quantitative techniques to understand stochasticity of pathogen transmission and other mechanisms of basic and applied disease ecology.
- the use of histopathology and electron microscopy to assess pathogen / disease monitoring and research needs in populations of wild and hatchery-raised fishes.
- the effects of environmental contaminants, including PAH’s, PCB’s, and emerging contaminants like PFAS and 6-PPD quinone on fish health, survival, and immunological pathways.
- the range expansion of invasive amphibians and their susceptibility to native and exotic pathogens.
In addition, Paul’s personal research employs a combination of laboratory and field approaches to understand, forecast, and mitigate the impacts of infectious and parasitic diseases on populations of wild marine and anadromous fishes.
Professional Experience
2022 to Present: Fish Health Section Chief, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA
2003 to Present – Station Leader, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Marrowstone Marine Field Station, Nordland, WA
2004 to Present – Member of the Affiliate Faculty, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Fisheries, School of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
M.S. Fisheries, School of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
B.S. Chemistry and Biology, Northland College, Ashland, WI
Science and Products
Emerging Viruses - FHP
Whirling Disease - FHP
Nucleospora Salmonis - FHP
Bacterial Kidney Disease (BKD) - FHP
Histopathology of Selected Parasitic Salmonid Diseases: A Color Atlas
Exxon Valdez oil spill long-term herring research and monitoring program final report
High‐prevalence and low‐intensity Ichthyophonus infections in Pacific Halibut
Detection of Nanophyetus salmincola in water, snails, and fish tissues by quantitative polymerase chain reaction
Influence of temperature on the efficacy of homologous and heterologous DNA vaccines against viral hemorrhagic septicemia in Pacific Herring
Optimization of a Plaque Neutralization Test (PNT) to identify the exposure history of Pacific Herring to viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV)
Herring Disease Program – Herring Disease Program II
Identification of the major capsid protein of erythrocytic necrosis virus (ENV) and development of quantitative real-time PCR assays for quantification of ENV DNA
Ichthyophonus parasite phylogeny based on ITS rDNA structure prediction and alignment identifies six clades, with a single dominant marine type
Disease surveillance of Atlantic herring: molecular characterization of hepatic coccidiosis and a morphological report of a novel intestinal coccidian
Infecting Pacific Herring with Ichthyophonus sp. in the laboratory
Principles underlying the epizootiology of viral hemorrhagic septicemia in Pacific herring and other fishes throughout the North Pacific Ocean
Up in arms: Immune and nervous system response to sea star wasting disease
Science and Products
- Science
Filter Total Items: 29
Emerging Viruses - FHP
Fish Diseases - Emerging VirusesWhirling Disease - FHP
Fish Diseases - Whirling DiseaseNucleospora Salmonis - FHP
Fish Diseases - Nucleospora SalmonisBacterial Kidney Disease (BKD) - FHP
Fish Diseases - Bacterial Kidney Disease (BKD)Histopathology of Selected Parasitic Salmonid Diseases: A Color Atlas
A collection of 77 photomicrographs compiled by the late William T. Yasutake, USGS Western Fisheries Research Center, Scientist Emeritus. Individual plates may be downloaded below. - Data
- Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 116
Exxon Valdez oil spill long-term herring research and monitoring program final report
This study includes annual field surveys of Ichthyophonus, viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus, and erythrocytic necrosis virus in adult and juvenile Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) in Prince William Sound, Alaska and several reference populations in Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington. Results from controlled experimental studies with Ichthyophonus indicated that: • Pacific herring could bAuthorsPaul HershbergerHigh‐prevalence and low‐intensity Ichthyophonus infections in Pacific Halibut
Ichthyophonus occurred at high prevalence but low intensity in Pacific Halibut Hippoglossus stenolepis throughout the West Coast of North America, ranging from coastal Oregon to the Bering Sea. Infection prevalence in adults was variable on spatial and temporal scales, with the lowest prevalence typically occurring on the edges of the geographic range and highest prevalence consistently occurringAuthorsPaul Hershberger, Jacob L. Gregg, Claude L. DykstraDetection of Nanophyetus salmincola in water, snails, and fish tissues by quantitative polymerase chain reaction
We report the development and validation of two quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays to detect Nanophyetus salmincola DNA in water samples and in fish and snail tissues. Analytical and diagnostic validation demonstrated good sensitivity, specificity, and repeatability of both qPCR assays. The N. salmincola DNA copy number in kidney tissue was significantly correlated with metacercaria counts based on miAuthorsMaureen K. Purcell, Rachel L. Powers, Bonnie Besijn, Paul K. HershbergerInfluence of temperature on the efficacy of homologous and heterologous DNA vaccines against viral hemorrhagic septicemia in Pacific Herring
Homologous and heterologous (genogroup Ia) DNA vaccines against viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (genogroup IVa) conferred partial protection in Pacific Herring Clupea pallasii. Early protection at 2 weeks postvaccination (PV) was low and occurred only at an elevated temperature (12.6°C, 189 degree days), where the relative percent survival following viral exposure was similar for the two vaccinAuthorsLucas Hart, Niels Lorenzen, Katja Einer-Jensen, Maureen K. Purcell, Paul HershbergerOptimization of a Plaque Neutralization Test (PNT) to identify the exposure history of Pacific Herring to viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV)
Methods for a plaque neutralization test (PNT) were optimized for the detection and quantification of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) neutralizing activity in the plasma of Pacific Herring Clupea pallasii. The PNT was complement dependent, as neutralizing activity was attenuated by heat inactivation; further, neutralizing activity was mostly restored by the addition of exogenous complemeAuthorsLucas Hart, Ashley MacKenzie, Maureen K. Purcell, Rachel L. Thompson, Paul HershbergerHerring Disease Program – Herring Disease Program II
No abstract available.AuthorsPaul Hershberger, Maureen K. PurcellIdentification of the major capsid protein of erythrocytic necrosis virus (ENV) and development of quantitative real-time PCR assays for quantification of ENV DNA
Viral erythrocytic necrosis (VEN) is a disease of marine and anadromous fish that is caused by the erythrocytic necrosis virus (ENV), which was recently identified as a novel member of family Iridoviridae by next-generation sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis of the ENV DNA polymerase grouped ENV with other erythrocytic iridoviruses from snakes and lizards. In the present study, we identified the geAuthorsMaureen K. Purcell, Schuyler Pearman-Gillman, Rachel L. Thompson, Jacob L. Gregg, Lucas M. Hart, James R. Winton, Eveline J. Emmenegger, Paul K. HershbergerIchthyophonus parasite phylogeny based on ITS rDNA structure prediction and alignment identifies six clades, with a single dominant marine type
Despite their widespread, global impact in both wild and cultured fishes, little is known of the diversity, transmission patterns, and phylogeography of parasites generally identified as Ichthyophonus. This study constructed a phylogeny based on the structural alignment of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA sequences to compare Ichthyophonus isolates from fish hosts in the Atlantic and PacificAuthorsJacob Gregg, Rachel L. Thompson, Maureen K. Purcell, Carolyn S. Friedman, Paul HershbergerDisease surveillance of Atlantic herring: molecular characterization of hepatic coccidiosis and a morphological report of a novel intestinal coccidian
Surveillance for pathogens of Atlantic herring, including viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV),Ichthyophonus hoferi, and hepatic and intestinal coccidians, was conducted from 2012 to 2016 in the NW Atlantic Ocean, New Jersey, USA. Neither VHSV nor I. hoferi was detected in any sample. Goussia clupearum was found in the livers of 40 to 78% of adult herring in varying parasite loads; however, aAuthorsSarah E Friend, J Lovey, Paul HershbergerInfecting Pacific Herring with Ichthyophonus sp. in the laboratory
The protistan parasite Ichthyophonus sp. occurs in coastal populations of Pacific Herring Clupea pallasii throughout the northeast Pacific region, but the route(s) by which these planktivorous fish become infected is unknown. Several methods for establishing Ichthyophonus infections in laboratory challenges were examined. Infections were most effectively established after intraperitoneal (IP) injeAuthorsPaul Hershberger, Lucas Hart, Ashley MacKenzie, M.L. Yanney, Carla M. Conway, Diane G. ElliottPrinciples underlying the epizootiology of viral hemorrhagic septicemia in Pacific herring and other fishes throughout the North Pacific Ocean
Although viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) typically occurs at low prevalence and intensity in natural populations of Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) and other marine fishes in the Northeast Pacific Ocean, epizootics of the resulting disease (VHS) periodically occur, often in association with observed fish kills. Here we identify a list of principles, based on a combination of field studAuthorsPaul K. Hershberger, Kyle A. Garver, James R. WintonUp in arms: Immune and nervous system response to sea star wasting disease
Echinoderms, positioned taxonomically at the base of deuterostomes, provide an important system for the study of the evolution of the immune system. However, there is little known about the cellular components and genes associated with echinoderm immunity. The 2013–2014 sea star wasting disease outbreak is an emergent, rapidly spreading disease, which has led to large population declines of asteroAuthorsLauren E Fuess, Morgan E. Eiselord, Collin J. Closek, Allison M. Tracy, Ruth Mauntz, Sarah Gignoux-Wolfsohn, Monica M Moritsch, Reyn Yoshioka, Colleen A. Burge, Drew Harvell, Carolyn S. Friedman, Paul K. Hershberger, Steven B. Roberts - News