Rebecca A Cole
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
Recurring waterbird mortalities and unusual etiologies
Parasitism and body condition in humpback chub from the Colorado and Little Colorado Rivers, Grand Canyon, Arizona
Update on the distribution of the invasive Asian fish tapeworm, Bothriocephalus acheilognathi, in the U.S. and Canada
Risk factors and declines in northern cricket frogs (Acris crepitans)
Book review: Parasites and diseases of wild birds in Florida
Mortality in Laysan ducks (Anas laysanensis) by emaciation complicated by Echinuria uncinata on Laysan Island, Hawaii, 1993
Endangered fish threatened by Asian fish tapeworm
Parasites of native and nonnative fishes of the Little Colorado River, Grand Canyon, Arizona
Zoonotic protozoa in the marine environment: a threat to aquatic mammals and public health
Influence of Ribeiroia ondatrae (Trematoda: Digenea) infection on limb development and survival of northern leopard frogs (Rana pipiens): effects of host stage and parasite-exposure level
Sporulation and survival of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in seawater
Prevalence of skeletal and eye malformations in frogs from north-central United States: estimations based on collections from randomly selected sites
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
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Filter Total Items: 70
Recurring waterbird mortalities and unusual etiologies
Over the last decade, the National Wildlife Health Center of the United States Geological Survey has documented various largescale mortalities of birds caused by infectious and non-infectious disease agents. Some of these mortality events have unusual or unidentified etiologies and have been recurring. While some of the causes of mortalities have been elucidated, others remain in various stages ofAuthorsRebecca A. Cole, J. Christian FransonParasitism and body condition in humpback chub from the Colorado and Little Colorado Rivers, Grand Canyon, Arizona
Glen Canyon Dam has greatly altered the Colorado River in Grand Canyon. The Little Colorado River (LCR) provides a small refuge of seasonally warm and turbid water that is thought to be more suitable than the Colorado River for endangered humpback chub Gila cypha. However, the LCR has low productivity and contains nonnative fishes and parasites, which pose a threat to humpback chub. The Colorado RAuthorsTimothy L. Hoffnagle, Anindo Choudhury, Rebecca A. ColeUpdate on the distribution of the invasive Asian fish tapeworm, Bothriocephalus acheilognathi, in the U.S. and Canada
The documented range of the invasive and potentially pathogenic Asian fish tapeworm, Bothriocephalus acheilognathi Yamaguti, 1934 in the United States and Canada is updated based on examination of museum depositions and original field collections. Gravid specimens of B. acheilognathi were collected from the fathead minnow Pimephales promelas Rafinesque in Peter Lake, at the University of Notre DamAuthorsA. Choudhury, E. Charipar, P. Nelson, J.R. Hodgson, S. Bonar, Rebecca A. ColeRisk factors and declines in northern cricket frogs (Acris crepitans)
No abstract available.AuthorsV.R. Beasley, S. Faeh, B. Wikoff, C. Staehle, J. Eisold, D. Nichols, Rebecca A. Cole, A. Schotthoefer, M. Greenwell, L. BrownBook review: Parasites and diseases of wild birds in Florida
No abstract available.AuthorsRebecca A. ColeMortality in Laysan ducks (Anas laysanensis) by emaciation complicated by Echinuria uncinata on Laysan Island, Hawaii, 1993
In November 1993, unusual mortality occurred among endangered Laysan ducks on Laysan Island, one of the remote refugia of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge (USA). Ten live ducks were emaciated, and blood samples documented anemia, heterophilia, and eosinophilia. Pathology in 13 duck carcasses revealed emaciation, marked thickening of the proventricular wall, abundant mucusAuthorsThierry M. Work, Carol U. Meteyer, Rebecca A. ColeEndangered fish threatened by Asian fish tapeworm
The Asian fish tapeworm, an exotic parasite, has invaded the endangered humpback chub (Gila cypha) population from the Colorado and Little Colorado Rivers in Grand Canyon, Arizona. This parasite causes disease and death in carp in aquaculture settings and may retard growth in hatchery-reared roundtail chub (Gila robusta). Other consequences include destruction and dysfunction of the intestinal linAuthorsRebecca A. ColeParasites of native and nonnative fishes of the Little Colorado River, Grand Canyon, Arizona
A 2-yr, seasonal, parasitological study of 1,435 fish, belonging to 4 species of native fishes and 7 species of nonnative fishes from the lower Little Colorado River (LCR) and tributary creeks, Grand Canyon, Arizona, yielded 17 species of parasites. These comprised 1 myxozoan (Henneguya exilis), 2 copepods (Ergasilus arthrosis and Lernaea cyprinacea), 1 acarine (Oribatida gen. sp.), 1 piscicolid lAuthorsA. Choudhury, T.L. Hoffnagle, Rebecca A. ColeZoonotic protozoa in the marine environment: a threat to aquatic mammals and public health
This collection of abstracts provides an account of four presentations at the 19th International Conference of the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP) (held in New Orleans, LA, USA from 10–14 August 2003) in a symposium session on zoonotic protozoan parasites found in the marine environment and chaired by Ronald Fayer and David Lindsay. The focus was on three gAuthorsM.E. Olson, A. Appelbee, L. Measures, Rebecca A. Cole, D. S. Lindsay, J. P. Dubey, N. J. Thomas, M. Miller, P. Conrad, I. Gardner, J. Kreuder, J. Mazet, D. Jessup, Erin Dodd, M. Harris, J. Ames, K. Worcester, D. Paradies, M. Grigg, R. Fayer, E.J. Lewis, J.M. Trout, L. Xiao, D.W. Howard, R. Palmer, K. Ludwig, S.S. TylerInfluence of Ribeiroia ondatrae (Trematoda: Digenea) infection on limb development and survival of northern leopard frogs (Rana pipiens): effects of host stage and parasite-exposure level
Recent evidence suggests that infection by larvae of the trematode Ribeiroia ondatrae accounts for a significant proportion of limb malformations currently observed in amphibian populations of North America. However, the effects of R. ondatrae infection on northern leopard frogs (Rana pipiens), one of the species most frequently reported with malformations, have not been adequately explored. MoreoAuthorsAnna M. Schotthoefer, Anson V. Koehler, Carol U. Meteyer, Rebecca A. ColeSporulation and survival of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in seawater
We have been collaborating since 1992 in studies on southern sea otters (Enhdyra lutris nereis) as part of a program to define factors, which may be responsible for limiting the growth of the southern sea otter population. We previously demonstrated Toxoplasma gondii in sea otiers. We postulated that cat feces containing oocysts could be entering the marine environment through storm run-off or thrAuthorsD. S. Lindsay, M.V. Collins, S.M. Mitchell, Rebecca A. Cole, G.J. Flick, C.N. Wetch, A. Lindquist, J. P. DubeyPrevalence of skeletal and eye malformations in frogs from north-central United States: estimations based on collections from randomly selected sites
Skeletal malformation rates for several frog species were determined in a set of randomly selected wetlands in the north-central USA over three consecutive years. In 1998, 62 sites yielded 389 metamorphic frogs, nine (2.3%) of which had skeletal or eye malformations. A subset of the original sites was surveyed in the following 2 yr. In 1999, 1,085 metamorphic frogs were collected from 36 sites andAuthorsP.K. Schoff, C.M. Johnson, A.M. Schotthoefer, J.E. Murphy, C. Lieske, Rebecca A. Cole, L.B. Johnson, V.R. BeasleyNon-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.