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
Development and characterization of 17 polymorphic microsatellite loci in the faucet snail, Bithynia tentaculata (Gastroposa: Caenogastropoda; Bithyniidae)
Parasites of the mink frog (Rana septentrionalis) from Minnesota, U.S.A.
Diplotriaena, Serratospiculum, and Serratospiculoides
Genetic diversity among sea otter isolates of Toxoplasma gondii
Survival of the faucet snail after chemical disinfection, pH extremes, and heated water bath treatments
Finding the Exotic Faucet Snail (Bithynia tentaculata): Investigation of Waterbird Die-Offs on the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
Incidence of the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in amphibian populations along the northwest coast of North America
Protozoal meningoencephalitis in sea otters (Enhydra lutris): A histopathological and immunohistochemical study of naturally occurring cases
A Ribeiroia spp. (Class: Trematoda) - Specific PCR-based diagnostic
Evidence of experimental postcyclic transmission of Bothriocephalus acheilognathi in bonytail chub (Gila elegans)
Experimental infection of the endangered bonytail chub (Gila elegans) with the Asian fish tapeworm (Bothriocephalus acheilognathi): impacts on survival, growth, and condition
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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Development and characterization of 17 polymorphic microsatellite loci in the faucet snail, Bithynia tentaculata (Gastroposa: Caenogastropoda; Bithyniidae)
Bithynia tentaculata (Linnaeus, 1758), a snail native to Europe, was introduced into the US Great Lakes in the 1870's and has spread to rivers throughout the Northeastern US and Upper Mississippi River (UMR). Trematode parasites, for which B. tentaculata is a host, have also been introduced and are causing widespread waterfowl mortality in the UMR. Waterfowl mortality is caused by ingestion of treAuthorsJustin P. Henningsen, Stacey L. Lance, Kenneth L. Jones, Chris Hagen, Joshua Laurila, Rebecca A. Cole, Kathryn E. PerezParasites of the mink frog (Rana septentrionalis) from Minnesota, U.S.A.
Twenty-two mink frogs, Rana septentrionalis, collected from two locations in Minnesota, United States, were examined for helminth and protozoan blood parasites in July 1999. A total of 16 parasite taxa were recovered including 5 larval digenean trematodes, 7 adult digenean trematodes, 3 nematodes, and 1 Trypanosoma species. Infracommunities were dominated by the digeneans in terms of richness andAuthorsAnna M. Schotthoefer, M. G. Bolek, Rebecca A. Cole, Val R. BeasleyDiplotriaena, Serratospiculum, and Serratospiculoides
No abstract available.AuthorsMauritz C. Sterner, Rebecca A. ColeGenetic diversity among sea otter isolates of Toxoplasma gondii
Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) have been reported to become infected with Toxoplasma gondiiand at times succumb to clinical disease. Here, we determined genotypes of 39 T. gondiiisolates from 37 sea otters in two geographically distant locations (25 from California and 12 from Washington). Six genotypes were identified using 10 PCR-RFLP genetic markers including SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, cAuthorsN. Sundar, Rebecca A. Cole, N. J. Thomas, D. Majumdar, J. P. Dubey, C. SuSurvival of the faucet snail after chemical disinfection, pH extremes, and heated water bath treatments
The faucet snail Bithynia tentaculata, a nonindigenous aquatic snail from Eurasia, was introduced into Lake Michigan in 1871 and has spread to the mid-Atlantic states, the Great Lakes region, Montana, and most recently, the Mississippi River. The faucet snail serves as intermediate host for several trematodes that have caused large-scale mortality among water birds, primarily in the Great Lakes reAuthorsA.J. Mitchell, Rebecca A. ColeFinding the Exotic Faucet Snail (Bithynia tentaculata): Investigation of Waterbird Die-Offs on the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
Beginning in 2002, there have been major waterbird die-offs every spring and fall in Lake Onalaska (Navigation Pool 7 of the Upper Mississippi River) located near La Crosse, Wisconsin. This area is part of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (UMR Refuge) and lies within the Mississippi Flyway, through which an estimated 40 percent of the continent's waterfowl migrate. ThrAuthorsJennifer S. Sauer, Rebecca A. Cole, James M. NissenIncidence of the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in amphibian populations along the northwest coast of North America
No abstract available.AuthorsM.J. Adams, S. Galvan, D. Reinitz, Rebecca A. Cole, Sanjay Pyare, M. Hahr, P. GovindarajuluProtozoal meningoencephalitis in sea otters (Enhydra lutris): A histopathological and immunohistochemical study of naturally occurring cases
Protozoal meningoencephalitis is considered to be an important cause of mortality in the California sea otter (Enhydra lutris). Thirty nine of 344 (11.3%) California (CA) and Washington state (WA) sea otters examined from 1985 to 2004 had histopathological evidence of significant protozoal meningoencephalitis. The aetiological agents and histopathological changes associated with these protozoal inAuthorsN. J. Thomas, J. P. Dubey, D. S. Lindsay, Rebecca A. Cole, C.U. MeteyerA Ribeiroia spp. (Class: Trematoda) - Specific PCR-based diagnostic
Increased reporting of amphibian malformations in North America has been noted with concern in light of reports that amphibian numbers and species are declining worldwide. Ribeiroia ondatrae has been shown to cause a variety of types of malformations in amphibians. However, little is known about the prevalence of R. ondatrae in North America. To aid in conducting field studies of Ribeiroia spp., wAuthorsDavid M. Reinitz, T.P. Yoshino, Rebecca A. ColeEvidence of experimental postcyclic transmission of Bothriocephalus acheilognathi in bonytail chub (Gila elegans)
We examined the role that predation of infected conspecific fish and postcyclic transmission might play in the life cycle of the Asian fish tapeworm, Bothriocephalus acheilognathi (Cestoda: Pseudophyllidea) Yamaguti, 1934. Young-of-the-year (YOY) bonytail chub (Gila elegans) were exposed to copepods infected with B. acheilognathi and subsequently fed to subadult bonytail chub. Within 1 wk after coAuthorsS. P. Hansen, A. Choudhury, Rebecca A. ColeExperimental infection of the endangered bonytail chub (Gila elegans) with the Asian fish tapeworm (Bothriocephalus acheilognathi): impacts on survival, growth, and condition
Bothriocephalus acheilognathi Yamaguti, 1934, a tapeworm known to be pathogenic to some fish species, has become established in the endangered humpback chub (Gila cypha Miller, 1964) in Grand Canyon, USA, following the tapeworm’s introduction into the Colorado River system. The potential impact of this tapeworm on humpback chub was studied by exposing the closely related bonytail chub (Gila eleganAuthorsS. P. Hansen, A. Choudhury, D.M. Heisey, J.A. Ahumada, T.L. Hoffnagle, Rebecca A. ColeNon-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.