Robert Dusek
Robert Dusek is a Wildlife Biologist at the National Wildlife Health Center.
Professional Experience
Aug. 2001 - Present, Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, Wisconsin.
Feb. 1998 - Aug. 2001, Graduate Student/Biological Technician, Florida Game and Fish Commission and University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Oct. 1995 - Jan. 1998, Biological Technician (Marine), Biscayne National Park, Homestead, Florida.
Nov. 1991 - Oct. 1995, Biological Technician (Wildlife), Pacific Islands Science Center (Wildlife Disease Lab), Volcano, Hawaii.
June 1991 - Nov. 1991, Wildlife Biologist, Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge, Tulelake, California.
Education and Certifications
Master of Science, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida. 2002.
Bachelor of Science, Wildlife Management. Humboldt State University, Arcata, California. 1989
Science and Products
USGS National Wildlife Health Center quarterly mortality report
Novel H5 clade 2.3.4.4 reassortant (H5N1) virus from a green-winged teal in Washington, USA
Wildlife specimen collection, preservation, and shipment
USGS National Wildlife Health Center quarterly wildlife mortality report
Avian influenza virus ecology in Iceland shorebirds: intercontinental reassortment and movement
Utilizing hunter harvest effort to survey for wildlife disease: a case study of West Nile virus in greater sage-grouse
Corticosterone metabolite concentrations in greater sage-grouse are positively associated with the presence of cattle grazing
North Atlantic migratory bird flyways provide routes for intercontinental movement of avian influenza viruses
Migratory flyway and geographical distance are barriers to the gene flow of influenza virus among North American birds
The effect of swab sample choice on the detection of avian influenza in apparently healthy wild ducks
Presence of avian influenza viruses in waterfowl and wetlands during summer 2010 in California: Are resident birds a potential reservoir?
Prevalence and effects of West Nile virus on wild American kestrel (Falco sparverius) populations in Colorado
Non-USGS Publications**
https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-40.4.682
https://doi.org/10.1654/1525-2647(2002)069[0092:BPOACC]2.0.CO;2
https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620210123
**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: 66
USGS National Wildlife Health Center quarterly mortality report
No abstract available.AuthorsJennifer G. Chipault, Anne Ballmann, Barbara L. Bodenstein, Robert J. DusekNovel H5 clade 2.3.4.4 reassortant (H5N1) virus from a green-winged teal in Washington, USA
Eurasian (EA)-origin H5N8 clade 2.3.4.4 avian influenza viruses were first detected in North America during December 2014. Subsequent reassortment with North American (AM) low-pathogenic wild-bird-origin avian influenza has generated at least two reassortants, including an EA/AM H5N1 from an apparently healthy wild green-winged teal, suggesting continued ongoing reassortment.AuthorsMia Kim Torchetti, Mary-Lea Killian, Robert J. Dusek, Janice C. Pedersen, Nichole Hines, Barbara L. Bodenstein, C. LeAnn White, Hon S. IpWildlife specimen collection, preservation, and shipment
Specimens are used to provide supporting information leading to the determination of the cause of disease or death in wildlife and for disease monitoring or surveillance. Commonly used specimens for wildlife disease investigations include intact carcasses, tissues from carcasses, euthanized or moribund animals, parasites, ingested food, feces, or environmental samples. Samples from live animals orAuthorsC. LeAnn White, Robert J. DusekUSGS National Wildlife Health Center quarterly wildlife mortality report
No abstract available.AuthorsAnne E. Ballmann, Barbara L. Bodenstein, Robert J. Dusek, Jennifer G. ChipaultAvian influenza virus ecology in Iceland shorebirds: intercontinental reassortment and movement
Shorebirds are a primary reservoir of avian influenza viruses (AIV). We conducted surveillance studies in Iceland shorebird populations for 3 years, documenting high serological evidence of AIV exposure in shorebirds, primarily in Ruddy Turnstones (Arenaria interpres; seroprevalence = 75%). However, little evidence of virus infection was found in these shorebird populations and only two turnstoneAuthorsJeffrey S. Hall, Gunnar Thor Hallgrimsson, Kamol Suwannanarn, Srinand Sreevatsen, Hon S. Ip, Joshua L. TeSlaa, Sean W. Nashold, Robert J. DusekUtilizing hunter harvest effort to survey for wildlife disease: a case study of West Nile virus in greater sage-grouse
Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse) are highly susceptible to infection with West Nile virus (WNV), with substantial mortality reported in wild populations and in experimentally infected birds. Although sage-grouse are hunted throughout much of their range, they have also recently been considered for protection under the Endangered Species Act. We used blood samples collecAuthorsRobert J. Dusek, Christian A. Hagen, J. Christian Franson, David A. Budeau, Erik K. HofmeisterCorticosterone metabolite concentrations in greater sage-grouse are positively associated with the presence of cattle grazing
The sagebrush biome in the western United States is home to the imperiled greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) and encompasses rangelands used for cattle production. Cattle grazing activities have been implicated in the range-wide decline of the sage-grouse, but no studies have investigated the relationship between the physiological condition of sage-grouse and the presence of grazing cAuthorsM.D. Jankowski, Robin E. Russell, J. Christian Franson, Robert J. Dusek, M.K. Hines, M. Gregg, Erik K. HofmeisterNorth Atlantic migratory bird flyways provide routes for intercontinental movement of avian influenza viruses
Avian influenza virus (AIV) in wild birds has been of increasing interest over the last decade due to the emergence of AIVs that cause significant disease and mortality in both poultry and humans. While research clearly demonstrates that AIVs can move across the Pacific or Atlantic Ocean, there has been no data to support the mechanism of how this occurs. In spring and autumn of 2010 and autumn ofAuthorsRobert J. Dusek, Gunnar T. Hallgrimsson, Hon S. Ip, Jón E. Jónsson, Srinand Sreevatsan, Sean W. Nashold, Joshua L. TeSlaa, Shinichiro Enomoto, Rebecca A. Halpin, Xudong Lin, Nadia Federova, Timothy B. Stockwell, Vivien G. Dugan, David E. Wentworth, Jeffrey S. HallMigratory flyway and geographical distance are barriers to the gene flow of influenza virus among North American birds
Despite the importance of migratory birds in the ecology and evolution of avian influenza virus (AIV), there is a lack of information on the patterns of AIV spread at the intra‐continental scale. We applied a variety of statistical phylogeographic techniques to a plethora of viral genome sequence data to determine the strength, pattern and determinants of gene flow in AIV sampled from wild birds iAuthorsTommy Tsan-Yuk Lam, Hon S. Ip, E. Ghedin, David E. Wentworth, Rebecca A. Halpin, T. B. Stockwell, Robert J. Dusek, James B. Bortner, Jenny Hoskins, Bradley D. Bales, Daniel R. Yparraguirre, E. C. HolmesThe effect of swab sample choice on the detection of avian influenza in apparently healthy wild ducks
Historically, avian influenza viruses have been isolated from cloacal swab specimens, but recent data suggest that the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus can be better detected from respiratory tract specimens. To better understand how swab sample type affects the detection ability of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses we collected and tested four swab types: oropharyngAuthorsHon S. Ip, Robert J. Dusek, Dennis M. HeiseyPresence of avian influenza viruses in waterfowl and wetlands during summer 2010 in California: Are resident birds a potential reservoir?
Although wild waterfowl are the main reservoir for low pathogenic avian influenza viruses (LPAIv), the environment plays a critical role for the circulation and persistence of AIv. LPAIv may persist for extended periods in cold environments, suggesting that waterfowl breeding areas in the northern hemisphere may be an important reservoir for AIv in contrast to the warmer southern wintering areas.AuthorsV. Henaux, M. D. Samuel, Robert J. Dusek, J. P. Fleskes, Hon S. IpPrevalence and effects of West Nile virus on wild American kestrel (Falco sparverius) populations in Colorado
To assess the potential impacts of West Nile virus (WNV) on a wild population of free-ranging raptors, we investigated the prevalence and effects of WNV on American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) breeding along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in northern Colorado. We monitored kestrel nesting activity at 131 nest boxes from March to August 2004. Of 81 nest attempts, we obtained samples from 11AuthorsRobert J. Dusek, William M. Iko, Erik K. HofmeisterNon-USGS Publications**
Dusek, R.J., M.G. Spalding, D.J. Forrester, N. Komar, and J.F. Day. 2005. Morbidity and mortality factors in pre-fledged Florida sandhill crane (Grus canadensis pratensis) chicks. Proceedings North American Crane Workshop 9: 7-13.Dusek, R.J., M.G. Spalding, D.J. Forrester, and E.C. Greiner. 2004. Haemoproteus balearicae and other blood parasites of free-ranging sandhill crane chicks. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 40: 682-687.
https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-40.4.682Dusek, R.J. and D.J. Forrester. 2002. Blood parasites of American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) and fish crows (C. ossifragus) in Florida, U.S.A. Comparative Parasitology 69: 92-96.
https://doi.org/10.1654/1525-2647(2002)069[0092:BPOACC]2.0.CO;2Frederick, P.C., M.G. Spalding, and R. Dusek. 2002. Wading birds as bioindicators of mercury contamination in Florida, USA: annual and geographic variation. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 21: 163-167.
https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620210123Spalding, M.G., S.A. Nesbitt, S.T. Schwikert and R.J. Dusek. 2001. The use of radio transmitters to monitor survival of sandhill crane chicks. Proceedings of the Eighth North American Crane Workshop 8: 213-215.
**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.