Rebecca Cole is the Section Head of the Parasitology Laboratory in the Laboratory Sciences Branch at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center.
Rebecca earned her PhD in Pathobiology from Auburn University, Alabama with a research focus in parasitology. Most of her research has focused on invasive or introduced parasites and parasites of invasive species.
Professional Experience
Research Zoologist, National Wildlife Health Center
Education and Certifications
Ph.D Pathobiology/Parasitology, Auburn University, AL 1994
MSc Biology, Murray State University, Murray KY, 1987
B.A. Biology Minor Chemistry, Maryville College, Maryville, TN
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 69
Epistylis spp. infestation in two species of mud turtles (Kinosternon spp.) in the American Southwest
The protistan genus Epistylis contains freshwater colonial species that attach to aquatic organisms in an epibiotic or parasitic relationship. They are known to attach to the epidermis and shells of aquatic turtles, but have not been reported to cause heavy infestations or morbidity in turtles. We documented heavy infestations of >Epistylis spp. in several populations of Sonoran mud turtles (Kinos
A novel gonadotropic microsporidian parasite (Microsporidium clinchi n. sp.) infecting a declining population of pheasantshell mussels (Actinonaias pectorosa) (Unioinidae) from the Clinch River, USA
Freshwater mussels of the order Unionida are among the most endangered animal groups globally, but the causes of their population decline are often enigmatic, with little known about the role of disease. In 2018, we collected wild adult pheasantshell (Actinonaias pectorosa) and mucket (Actinonaias ligamentina) during an epidemiologic survey investigating an ongoing mussel mass mortality event in t
Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for detection of Asian fish tapeworm, Schyzocotyle acheilognathi (Yamaguti, 1934) [syn. Bothriocephalus acheilognathi]
The Asian fish tapeworm (Schyzocotyle acheilognathi syn. Bothriocephalus acheilognathi) (AFT) is an invasive parasite that can infect many species of fish, although most hosts are primarily members of Cyprinidae. Pathogenicity has most often been reported in aquaculture settings in fry and fingerling stages of carp (Cyprinus spp.). More recently, it has been shown to cause growth retardation in th
Acute mortality in California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense) and Santa Cruz long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum) caused by Ribeiroia ondatrae (Class: Trematoda)
In early September 2019, a morbidity and mortality event affecting California tiger salamanders (Ambystoma californiense) and Santa Cruz long-toed salamanders (Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum) in late stages of metamorphosis was reported at a National Wildlife Refuge in Santa Cruz County, California, U.S.A. During the postmortem disease investigation, severe integumentary metacercarial (Class: Tre
Gapeworm (Syngamus spp.) prevalence in Wisconsin greater prairie chickens (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus)
Under Wisconsin state law, the greater prairie chicken (GRPC; Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus) has been listed as a threatened species since 1976. In 2014–15, we conducted a pilot study to determine the prevalence and intensity of gapeworms (Syngamus spp.) in female Wisconsin GRPCs collected from 2 monitored populations. We captured 62 female GRPCs using walk-in-style traps for females and night light
Diplotriaena obtusa (Nematoda: Diplotriaenidae) from barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) and cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) collected during mortality events in the Upper Midwest, USA
Several mortality events involving barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) and cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) were reported in the Upper Midwestern states in 2017 and 2018. Barn swallow mortality followed unseasonal cold snaps, with the primary cause of death being emaciation with concurrent air sac nematodiasis. Lesions in cliff swallows were consistent with blunt force trauma from suspected c
Life cycle of the trout cecal nematode, Truttaedacnitis truttae (Nematoda: Cucullanidae): Experimental and field observations
Truttaedacnitis truttae is a cucullanid nematode of primarily salmonine fishes. Brown trout (Salmo trutta) in Europe reportedly become parasitized by ingesting lampreys (Lampetra planeri) carrying infective larvae. However, our field and laboratory observations suggested that North American specimens of T. truttae have an alternative life cycle. High abundances and potential impact of T. truttae i
Associations of intestinal helminth infections with health parameters of spring-migrating female lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) in the upper Midwest, USA
Thousands of lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) die during spring and fall migrations through the upper Midwest, USA, from infections with Cyathocotyle bushiensis and Sphaeridiotrema spp. (Class: Trematoda) after ingesting infected intermediate hosts, such as non-native faucet snails (Bithynia tentaculata). The lesser scaup is a species of conservation concern and is highly susceptible to these infecti
Mass mortality attributed to acanthocephaliasis at a Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) colony in coastal California
From 12 May 2013 to 29 May 2013, the Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) colony at the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge, California, experienced a mass die-off of at least 92 adults, representing 71–92% of the breeding population on the US west coast. Cause of death was determined to be peritonitis due to perforations of the intestine by a large quantity of acanthocephala (Profilicolis
Genetic structure of faucet snail, Bithynia tentaculata populations in North Americal based on microsattelite markers
Bithynia tentaculata is believed to have been extirpated from North America during the last glacial maximum. It was reintroduced into North America via the Great Lakes basin in the 1800’s and has recently been expanding its geographic range. This snail serves as intermediate host for three trematodes that cause extensive recurring morbidity and mortality events in migratory water birds along the M
Non-USGS Publications**
Shoop, W. L., R. A. Cole and K. C. Corkum, 1987. The use of frozen carcasses in parasite surveys. J. Parasitol. 73: 109.
Cole, R. A. and W. L. Shoop, 1987. Helminths of the raccoon (Procyon lotor) in Western Kentucky. J. Parasitol. 73:762768.
Hoffnagle, T. L., R. A. Cole and W. L. Shoop, 1987. Gastrointestinal parasites of the blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) in Kentucky Lake, TN. J. Helminthol. Soc. Wash. 57: 4043.
Cole, R. A., D. S. Lindsay, B. L. BIagburn and J. P. Dubey, 1993. Detection of Neospora caninum in tissues using a murine monoclonal antibody. J. Vet. Diagn. Invest. 5: 579-584
Lindsay, D. S., J. P. Dubey, R. A. Cole, L. P. Nuehring and B. L. Blagburn. 1993. Neospora induced protozoal abortions in cattle. Comp. Cont. Educ. Prac. Vet. 15:882-889.
Gasser, R. B., B. G. Edwards and R. A. Cole, 1993. Neosporosis in a dog in Victoria. Aust. Vet. Practit. 23: 190-193.
Lindsay, D. S., N. S. Rippey, R. A. Cole, L. C. Parsons, J. P. Dubey, R. R. Tidwell and B. L. Blagburn, 1994. Examination of the activities of 43 chemotherapeutic agents against Neospora caninum tachyzoites in cultured cells. Am. J. Vet. Res. 55: 976-981.
Cole, R. A., D. S. Lindsay, B. L. Blagburn and J. P. Dubey, 1994. Characterization of a murine monoclonal antibody against Neospora caninum tachyzoites by Western blot analysis and immunoelectron microscopy. Amer. J. Vet. Res. 55:1717-1721.
Cole, R. A., D. S. Lindsay, J. P. Dubey, B. L. Blagburn, 1995. Canine vertical transmission of Neospora caninum. J. Parasitol. 81: 208-211.
Lindsay, D. S., S. Lenz, R. A. Cole, J. P. Dubey and B. L. Blagburn, 1995. Neospora caninum infections in BALB-C mice, J. Parasitol. 81: 313-315.
Cole, R. A., D. S. Lindsay, B. L. Blagburn, and J. P. Dubey, 1995. Vertical transmission of Neospora caninum in mice. J. Parasitol. 81: 730-732.
**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.
Diagnostic Parasitology Laboratory (DPL)
The Diagnostic Parasitology Laboratory (DPL) supports the USGS National Wildlife Health Center’s diagnostic investigations and conducts research. A variety of procedures are used to identify eukaryotic parasites, including the use of morphological characters, dichotomous taxonomic keys, and DNA sequence analysis.
A Novel Gonadotropic Microsporidian Parasite (Microsporidium clinchi n. sp.) Infecting a Declining Population of Pheasantshell Mussels (Actinonaias pectorosa) (Unioinidae) from the Clinch River, USA
Freshwater mussels of the order Unionida are among the most endangered animal groups globally, but the causes of population declines are often enigmatic with little known about the role of disease. In 2018, we collected wild adult pheasantshell (Actinonaias pectorosa) and mucket (Actinonaias ligamentina) during an epidemiologic survey investigating an ongoing mussel mass mortality event in the Cli
LAMP assay for detection of Asian fish tapeworm
Data are relative fluorescent units obtained from the FAM channel of a AmpliFire Isothermal Fluorometer (Agdia, Inc., Elkhart, USA) recorded every 10 sec during as isothermal (LAMP) amplification. The isothermal reaction is to detect the Asian fish tapeworm, Schyzocotyle acheilognathi [syn. Bothriocephalus]. Samples (column headers) are described in tabs and include 1) positive control dilution se
Carcass weights, 28S rRNA alignment file and parasite sample vouchers collected from California tiger salamanders (Ambystoma californiense) CTS and Santa Cruz long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum) SCLT from Prospect or Ellicott Pond, on E
Animal identification number, weight in grams for carcasses of California tiger salamanders (Ambystoma californiense) CTS and Santa Cruz long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum) SCLT from Prospect or Ellicott Pond, on Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge, California U.S.A. submitted to U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) for determination of cause of de
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 69
Epistylis spp. infestation in two species of mud turtles (Kinosternon spp.) in the American Southwest
The protistan genus Epistylis contains freshwater colonial species that attach to aquatic organisms in an epibiotic or parasitic relationship. They are known to attach to the epidermis and shells of aquatic turtles, but have not been reported to cause heavy infestations or morbidity in turtles. We documented heavy infestations of >Epistylis spp. in several populations of Sonoran mud turtles (KinosA novel gonadotropic microsporidian parasite (Microsporidium clinchi n. sp.) infecting a declining population of pheasantshell mussels (Actinonaias pectorosa) (Unioinidae) from the Clinch River, USA
Freshwater mussels of the order Unionida are among the most endangered animal groups globally, but the causes of their population decline are often enigmatic, with little known about the role of disease. In 2018, we collected wild adult pheasantshell (Actinonaias pectorosa) and mucket (Actinonaias ligamentina) during an epidemiologic survey investigating an ongoing mussel mass mortality event in tLoop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for detection of Asian fish tapeworm, Schyzocotyle acheilognathi (Yamaguti, 1934) [syn. Bothriocephalus acheilognathi]
The Asian fish tapeworm (Schyzocotyle acheilognathi syn. Bothriocephalus acheilognathi) (AFT) is an invasive parasite that can infect many species of fish, although most hosts are primarily members of Cyprinidae. Pathogenicity has most often been reported in aquaculture settings in fry and fingerling stages of carp (Cyprinus spp.). More recently, it has been shown to cause growth retardation in thAcute mortality in California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense) and Santa Cruz long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum) caused by Ribeiroia ondatrae (Class: Trematoda)
In early September 2019, a morbidity and mortality event affecting California tiger salamanders (Ambystoma californiense) and Santa Cruz long-toed salamanders (Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum) in late stages of metamorphosis was reported at a National Wildlife Refuge in Santa Cruz County, California, U.S.A. During the postmortem disease investigation, severe integumentary metacercarial (Class: TreGapeworm (Syngamus spp.) prevalence in Wisconsin greater prairie chickens (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus)
Under Wisconsin state law, the greater prairie chicken (GRPC; Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus) has been listed as a threatened species since 1976. In 2014–15, we conducted a pilot study to determine the prevalence and intensity of gapeworms (Syngamus spp.) in female Wisconsin GRPCs collected from 2 monitored populations. We captured 62 female GRPCs using walk-in-style traps for females and night lightDiplotriaena obtusa (Nematoda: Diplotriaenidae) from barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) and cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) collected during mortality events in the Upper Midwest, USA
Several mortality events involving barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) and cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) were reported in the Upper Midwestern states in 2017 and 2018. Barn swallow mortality followed unseasonal cold snaps, with the primary cause of death being emaciation with concurrent air sac nematodiasis. Lesions in cliff swallows were consistent with blunt force trauma from suspected cLife cycle of the trout cecal nematode, Truttaedacnitis truttae (Nematoda: Cucullanidae): Experimental and field observations
Truttaedacnitis truttae is a cucullanid nematode of primarily salmonine fishes. Brown trout (Salmo trutta) in Europe reportedly become parasitized by ingesting lampreys (Lampetra planeri) carrying infective larvae. However, our field and laboratory observations suggested that North American specimens of T. truttae have an alternative life cycle. High abundances and potential impact of T. truttae iAssociations of intestinal helminth infections with health parameters of spring-migrating female lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) in the upper Midwest, USA
Thousands of lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) die during spring and fall migrations through the upper Midwest, USA, from infections with Cyathocotyle bushiensis and Sphaeridiotrema spp. (Class: Trematoda) after ingesting infected intermediate hosts, such as non-native faucet snails (Bithynia tentaculata). The lesser scaup is a species of conservation concern and is highly susceptible to these infectiMass mortality attributed to acanthocephaliasis at a Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) colony in coastal California
From 12 May 2013 to 29 May 2013, the Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) colony at the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge, California, experienced a mass die-off of at least 92 adults, representing 71–92% of the breeding population on the US west coast. Cause of death was determined to be peritonitis due to perforations of the intestine by a large quantity of acanthocephala (ProfilicolisGenetic structure of faucet snail, Bithynia tentaculata populations in North Americal based on microsattelite markers
Bithynia tentaculata is believed to have been extirpated from North America during the last glacial maximum. It was reintroduced into North America via the Great Lakes basin in the 1800’s and has recently been expanding its geographic range. This snail serves as intermediate host for three trematodes that cause extensive recurring morbidity and mortality events in migratory water birds along the MNon-USGS Publications**
Shoop, W. L., R. A. Cole and K. C. Corkum, 1987. The use of frozen carcasses in parasite surveys. J. Parasitol. 73: 109.Cole, R. A. and W. L. Shoop, 1987. Helminths of the raccoon (Procyon lotor) in Western Kentucky. J. Parasitol. 73:762768.Hoffnagle, T. L., R. A. Cole and W. L. Shoop, 1987. Gastrointestinal parasites of the blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) in Kentucky Lake, TN. J. Helminthol. Soc. Wash. 57: 4043.Cole, R. A., D. S. Lindsay, B. L. BIagburn and J. P. Dubey, 1993. Detection of Neospora caninum in tissues using a murine monoclonal antibody. J. Vet. Diagn. Invest. 5: 579-584Lindsay, D. S., J. P. Dubey, R. A. Cole, L. P. Nuehring and B. L. Blagburn. 1993. Neospora induced protozoal abortions in cattle. Comp. Cont. Educ. Prac. Vet. 15:882-889.Gasser, R. B., B. G. Edwards and R. A. Cole, 1993. Neosporosis in a dog in Victoria. Aust. Vet. Practit. 23: 190-193.Lindsay, D. S., N. S. Rippey, R. A. Cole, L. C. Parsons, J. P. Dubey, R. R. Tidwell and B. L. Blagburn, 1994. Examination of the activities of 43 chemotherapeutic agents against Neospora caninum tachyzoites in cultured cells. Am. J. Vet. Res. 55: 976-981.Cole, R. A., D. S. Lindsay, B. L. Blagburn and J. P. Dubey, 1994. Characterization of a murine monoclonal antibody against Neospora caninum tachyzoites by Western blot analysis and immunoelectron microscopy. Amer. J. Vet. Res. 55:1717-1721.Cole, R. A., D. S. Lindsay, J. P. Dubey, B. L. Blagburn, 1995. Canine vertical transmission of Neospora caninum. J. Parasitol. 81: 208-211.Lindsay, D. S., S. Lenz, R. A. Cole, J. P. Dubey and B. L. Blagburn, 1995. Neospora caninum infections in BALB-C mice, J. Parasitol. 81: 313-315.Cole, R. A., D. S. Lindsay, B. L. Blagburn, and J. P. Dubey, 1995. Vertical transmission of Neospora caninum in mice. J. Parasitol. 81: 730-732.**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
Diagnostic Parasitology Laboratory (DPL)
The Diagnostic Parasitology Laboratory (DPL) supports the USGS National Wildlife Health Center’s diagnostic investigations and conducts research. A variety of procedures are used to identify eukaryotic parasites, including the use of morphological characters, dichotomous taxonomic keys, and DNA sequence analysis.
- Data
A Novel Gonadotropic Microsporidian Parasite (Microsporidium clinchi n. sp.) Infecting a Declining Population of Pheasantshell Mussels (Actinonaias pectorosa) (Unioinidae) from the Clinch River, USA
Freshwater mussels of the order Unionida are among the most endangered animal groups globally, but the causes of population declines are often enigmatic with little known about the role of disease. In 2018, we collected wild adult pheasantshell (Actinonaias pectorosa) and mucket (Actinonaias ligamentina) during an epidemiologic survey investigating an ongoing mussel mass mortality event in the CliLAMP assay for detection of Asian fish tapeworm
Data are relative fluorescent units obtained from the FAM channel of a AmpliFire Isothermal Fluorometer (Agdia, Inc., Elkhart, USA) recorded every 10 sec during as isothermal (LAMP) amplification. The isothermal reaction is to detect the Asian fish tapeworm, Schyzocotyle acheilognathi [syn. Bothriocephalus]. Samples (column headers) are described in tabs and include 1) positive control dilution seCarcass weights, 28S rRNA alignment file and parasite sample vouchers collected from California tiger salamanders (Ambystoma californiense) CTS and Santa Cruz long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum) SCLT from Prospect or Ellicott Pond, on E
Animal identification number, weight in grams for carcasses of California tiger salamanders (Ambystoma californiense) CTS and Santa Cruz long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum) SCLT from Prospect or Ellicott Pond, on Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge, California U.S.A. submitted to U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) for determination of cause of de