Culex species mosquito biting a human hand.
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
Detecting Sublethal Effects of Harmful Algal Blooms in Mammalian and Avian Cells
Algal Toxins and Wildlife Health
Avian Influenza
Vector-Borne Diseases
Avian morbidity and mortality data reported to the Wildlife Health Information Sharing Partnership - event reporting system (WHISPers) in the continental United States for events beginning on or between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023
USGS National Wildlife Health Center necropsy results to determine cause of illness/death for seabirds collected in Alaska from January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2021
Results of algal toxin testing from wildlife mortality submissions to the National Wildlife Health Center
Dataset: Surveillance for Avian Influenza Virus in Iceland, 2010 - 2018
Dataset: Acute oral toxicity and tissue residues of saxitoxin in the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Data Associated with Algal Toxin Testing of Seabirds from the Bering and Chukchi Seas, 2017
Occurrence of Chlamydia sp in apparently healthy birds associated with a mortality event caused by chlamydiosis: Data
Culex species mosquito biting a human hand.
Sanderling (Calidris alba) walking on sand, seen during field work in Iceland in 2014.
Sanderling (Calidris alba) walking on sand, seen during field work in Iceland in 2014.
Northern gannet (Morus bassanus) seen during field work in Iceland in 2013.
Northern gannet (Morus bassanus) seen during field work in Iceland in 2013.
Northern gannet (Morus bassanus) seen during field work in Iceland in 2013.
Northern gannet (Morus bassanus) seen during field work in Iceland in 2013.
Lesser black-backed gulls (Larus fuscus) seen during field work in Iceland in 2012.
Lesser black-backed gulls (Larus fuscus) seen during field work in Iceland in 2012.
Iceland gull (Larus glaucoides) photographed during field work in Iceland.
Iceland gull (Larus glaucoides) photographed during field work in Iceland.
Gulls, such as this Iceland gull, play an important role in moving avian flu viruses across the North Atlantic between Europe and North America.
Gulls, such as this Iceland gull, play an important role in moving avian flu viruses across the North Atlantic between Europe and North America.
Gulls, such as this lesser black-backed gull, play an important role in moving avian flu viruses across the North Atlantic between Europe and North America.
Gulls, such as this lesser black-backed gull, play an important role in moving avian flu viruses across the North Atlantic between Europe and North America.
A USGS scientist takes a sample from a northern pintail duck (Anas acuta) to be tested for avian influenza.
A USGS scientist takes a sample from a northern pintail duck (Anas acuta) to be tested for avian influenza.
USGS biologists swab a hen mallard duck for avian influenza in Rio Grande County, Colorado.
USGS biologists swab a hen mallard duck for avian influenza in Rio Grande County, Colorado.
USGS scientist takes a sample from a northern pintail duck (Anas acuta) to be tested for avian influenza.
USGS scientist takes a sample from a northern pintail duck (Anas acuta) to be tested for avian influenza.
USGS scientist Dede Goldberg swabs a pintail duck for avian influenza at Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado.
USGS scientist Dede Goldberg swabs a pintail duck for avian influenza at Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado.
USGS scientists capture and release wild birds while monitoring for West Nile.
USGS scientists capture and release wild birds while monitoring for West Nile.
Blue-winged Warbler.
Modeling the response of an endangered rabbit population to RHDV2 and vaccination
Partnering in search of answers: Seabird die-offs in the Bering and Chukchi Seas
Global dissemination of Influenza A virus is driven by wild bird migration through arctic and subarctic zones
Paralytic shellfish toxins associated with Arctic Tern mortalities in Alaska
A review of algal toxin exposures on reserved federal lands and among trust species in the United States
Acute oral toxicity and tissue residues of saxitoxin in the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N2 (Clade 2.3.4.4) challenge of mallards age appropriate to the 2015 midwestern poultry outbreak
Investigation of algal toxins in a multispecies seabird die-off in the Bering and Chukchi seas
Quarterly wildlife mortality report July 2020
Avian influenza virus prevalence in marine birds is dependent on ocean temperatures
Quarterly wildlife mortality report July 2019
Aerosol transmission of gull-origin Iceland subtype H10N7 influenza A virus in ferrets
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
- Science
Detecting Sublethal Effects of Harmful Algal Blooms in Mammalian and Avian Cells
USGS Researchers are collaborating to study avian and mammalian cells to detect sublethal toxin effects following exposure to harmful algal blooms.Algal Toxins and Wildlife Health
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) have the potential to harm fish and wildlife, domestic animals, livestock, and humans through toxin production or ecological disturbances such as oxygen depletion and blockage of sunlight.Avian Influenza
Avian influenza is a viral disease caused by various strains of avian influenza viruses that can be classified as low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) or highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). It remains a global disease with potential high consequence with the potential to threaten wildlife, agriculture, and human health.Vector-Borne Diseases
Vector-borne diseases are transmitted from one animal to another by vectors, including insects, such as mosquitoes or fleas, and arachnids, such as ticks. The USGS National Wildlife Health Center investigates wildlife diseases, including vector-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus and sylvatic plague. - Data
Avian morbidity and mortality data reported to the Wildlife Health Information Sharing Partnership - event reporting system (WHISPers) in the continental United States for events beginning on or between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023
Avian morbidity and mortality events reported in WHISPers that began in calendar year 2023. Events reported in WHISPers represent only those events that are reported to the USGS National Wildlife Health Center or the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Studies at the University of Georgia, or that State, Federal, and Tribal partners voluntarily report into WHISPers, not legal, and marked asUSGS National Wildlife Health Center necropsy results to determine cause of illness/death for seabirds collected in Alaska from January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2021
Summary of Bering and Chukchi Seas seabird necropsies, 2017-2021. More than 14,000 dead seabirds were reported and a total of 117 carcasses were examined. 92 cases had emaciation identified as the Cause Of Death (COD), seven cases where COD was undetermined, and 17 cases where COD was determined as "Other", which included predation, trauma, encephalitis, peritonitis, and bacterial infection. Low PResults of algal toxin testing from wildlife mortality submissions to the National Wildlife Health Center
This data set is composed of all animals received as a diagnostic submission to the USGS National Wildlife Health Center for which algal toxin testing was performed from November 1998 to January 2018. Birds with a histologic diagnosis of avian vacuolar myelinopathy, a disease caused by the algal toxin aetokthonotoxin, are also included. Algal toxins tested for include brevetoxin, cylindrospermopsiDataset: Surveillance for Avian Influenza Virus in Iceland, 2010 - 2018
From 2010-2018 we investigated the occurrence of avian influenza virus in wild birds in Iceland. A total of 6635 swabs samples were collected from wild birds or fecal material directly associated with wild birds. We screened all samples by a real time - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test with 381 testing positive. Further testing of all RT-PCR positive samples and all negative samples collectDataset: Acute oral toxicity and tissue residues of saxitoxin in the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
This data set is composed of data collected from an experimental study inoculating mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) with Saxitoxin and associated control ducks. Data includes the specific of inoculation, observational behavioral data, daily weights, dosing, results of inoculation, testing of samples collected throughout the study, and necropsy results.Data Associated with Algal Toxin Testing of Seabirds from the Bering and Chukchi Seas, 2017
This data set is comprised of three tables with results of algal toxin screening for saxitoxin and domoic acid. We used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to screen seabirds in the Bering and Chukchi Seas, 2017.Occurrence of Chlamydia sp in apparently healthy birds associated with a mortality event caused by chlamydiosis: Data
hese data sets are is a compilation of bird and environmental samples obtained from 6 sites in Maricopa County, Arizona on the dates shown. Sites were only visited and sampled if they had Rosy-cheeked lovebirds coming to bird feeders at the location and with the permission of the property owner. Two swab samples were obtained from each captured bird and 3 swab samples were collected from the envir - Multimedia
Biting Mosquito
Culex species mosquito biting a human hand.
Culex species mosquito biting a human hand.
Sanderling (Calidris alba)Sanderling (Calidris alba) walking on sand, seen during field work in Iceland in 2014.
Sanderling (Calidris alba) walking on sand, seen during field work in Iceland in 2014.
Northern gannet (Morus bassanus)Northern gannet (Morus bassanus) seen during field work in Iceland in 2013.
Northern gannet (Morus bassanus) seen during field work in Iceland in 2013.
Northern gannet (Morus bassanus)Northern gannet (Morus bassanus) seen during field work in Iceland in 2013.
Northern gannet (Morus bassanus) seen during field work in Iceland in 2013.
Lesser black-backed gulls (Larus fuscus)Lesser black-backed gulls (Larus fuscus) seen during field work in Iceland in 2012.
Lesser black-backed gulls (Larus fuscus) seen during field work in Iceland in 2012.
Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides)Iceland gull (Larus glaucoides) photographed during field work in Iceland.
Iceland gull (Larus glaucoides) photographed during field work in Iceland.
Iceland GullGulls, such as this Iceland gull, play an important role in moving avian flu viruses across the North Atlantic between Europe and North America.
Gulls, such as this Iceland gull, play an important role in moving avian flu viruses across the North Atlantic between Europe and North America.
Lesser Black-Backed GullGulls, such as this lesser black-backed gull, play an important role in moving avian flu viruses across the North Atlantic between Europe and North America.
Gulls, such as this lesser black-backed gull, play an important role in moving avian flu viruses across the North Atlantic between Europe and North America.
Testing for Avian InfluenzaA USGS scientist takes a sample from a northern pintail duck (Anas acuta) to be tested for avian influenza.
A USGS scientist takes a sample from a northern pintail duck (Anas acuta) to be tested for avian influenza.
USGS biologists swab a hen mallard duck for avian influenzaUSGS biologists swab a hen mallard duck for avian influenzaUSGS biologists swab a hen mallard duck for avian influenza in Rio Grande County, Colorado.
USGS biologists swab a hen mallard duck for avian influenza in Rio Grande County, Colorado.
USGS Scientist Takes a Sample from a Northern Pintail DuckUSGS Scientist Takes a Sample from a Northern Pintail DuckUSGS scientist takes a sample from a northern pintail duck (Anas acuta) to be tested for avian influenza.
USGS scientist takes a sample from a northern pintail duck (Anas acuta) to be tested for avian influenza.
USGS Avian Flu ResearchUSGS scientist Dede Goldberg swabs a pintail duck for avian influenza at Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado.
USGS scientist Dede Goldberg swabs a pintail duck for avian influenza at Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado.
USGS Scientist Set Mistnets for West Nile Virus MonitoringUSGS Scientist Set Mistnets for West Nile Virus MonitoringUSGS scientists capture and release wild birds while monitoring for West Nile.
USGS scientists capture and release wild birds while monitoring for West Nile.
Blue-winged WarblerBlue-winged Warbler.
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 66
Modeling the response of an endangered rabbit population to RHDV2 and vaccination
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2), recently detected in the western United States, has the potential to cause mass mortality events in wild rabbit and hare populations. Currently, few management strategies exist other than vaccination. We developed a spatially explicit model of RHDV2 for a population of riparian brush rabbits (Sylvilagus bachmani riparius), a subspecies of brush rabbit clAuthorsRobin Russell, Robert J. Dusek, Stephanie Prevost, Deana L. Clifford, Megan Moriarty, Fumika TakahashiPartnering in search of answers: Seabird die-offs in the Bering and Chukchi Seas
Prior to 2015, seabird die-offs in Alaskan waters were rare; they typically occurred in mid-winter, linked to epizootic disease events or above-average ocean temperatures associated with strong El Nino-Southern Oscillation events (Bodenstein et al. 2015, Jones et al. 2019, Romano et al. 2020). Since 2015, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has monitored mortality events that have become anAuthorsRobb A. S. Kaler, Gay Sheffield, S Backensto, Jackie Lindsey, T. Jones, J. Parrish, B Ahmasuk, Barbara Bodenstein, Robert J. Dusek, Caroline R. Van Hemert, Matthew M. Smith, P SchwalenbergGlobal dissemination of Influenza A virus is driven by wild bird migration through arctic and subarctic zones
Influenza A viruses (IAV) circulate endemically among many wild aquatic bird populations that seasonally migrate between wintering grounds in southern latitudes to breeding ranges along the perimeter of the circumpolar arctic. Arctic and subarctic zones are hypothesized to serve as ecologic drivers of the intercontinental movement and reassortment of IAVs due to high densities of disparate populatAuthorsJonathan D. Jr. Gass, Robert J. Dusek, Jeffrey S. Hall, Gunnar Thor Hallgrimsson, Halldór Pálmar Halldórsson, Solvi Runar Vignisson, Sunna Bjork Ragnarsdottir, Jón Einar Jónsson, Scott Krauss, Wong. Sook-San, Xiu-Feng Wan, Sadia Akter, Srinand Sreevatsan, Nidia S. Trovão, Felicia B. Nutter, Jonathan A. Runstadler, Nichola J. HillParalytic shellfish toxins associated with Arctic Tern mortalities in Alaska
Harmful algal blooms produce biotoxins that can injure or kill fish, wildlife, and humans. These blooms occur naturally but have intensified in many locations globally due to recent climatic changes, including ocean warming. Such changes are especially pronounced in northern regions, where the effects of paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) on marine wildlife are of growing concern. In Alaska, seabirAuthorsCaroline R. Van Hemert, John Harley, Gwen Baluss, Matthew M. Smith, Robert J. Dusek, Julia S. Lankton, D. Ransom Hardison, Sarah K. Schoen, Robert KalerA review of algal toxin exposures on reserved federal lands and among trust species in the United States
Associated health effects from algal toxin exposure are a growing concern for human and animal health. Algal toxin poisonings may occur from contact with or consumption of water supplies or from ingestion of contaminated animals. The U.S. Federal Government owns or holds in trust about 259 million hectares of land, in addition to the Trust species obligations. We completed the first comprehensiveAuthorsZachary Laughrey, Victoria Christensen, Robert J. Dusek, Sarena Senegal, Julia S. Lankton, Tracy Ziegler, Lee C. Jones, Daniel Jones, Brianna Williams, Stephanie Gordon, Gerald A. Clyde, Erich B Emery, Keith LoftinAcute oral toxicity and tissue residues of saxitoxin in the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Since 2014, widespread, annual mortality events involving multiple species of seabirds have occurred in the Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea, and Chukchi Sea. Among these die-offs, emaciation was a common finding with starvation often identified as the cause of death. However, saxitoxin (STX) was detected in many carcasses, indicating exposure of these seabirds to STX in the marine environment. Few dataAuthorsRobert J. Dusek, Matthew M. Smith, Caroline R. Van Hemert, Valerie I. Shearn-Bochsler, Sherwood Hall, Clark D. Ridge, Ransome Hardison, Robert Kaler, Barbara Bodenstein, Erik K. Hofmeister, Jeffrey S. HallHighly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N2 (Clade 2.3.4.4) challenge of mallards age appropriate to the 2015 midwestern poultry outbreak
BackgroundThe 2015 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N2 clade 2.3.4.4 outbreak in upper midwestern U.S. poultry operations was not detected in wild birds to any great degree during the outbreak, despite wild waterfowl being implicated in the introduction, reassortment, and movement of the virus into North America from Asia. This outbreak led to the demise of over 50 million domestiAuthorsJeffrey S. Hall, Daniel A. Grear, Scott Krauss, Patrick Seiler, Robert J. Dusek, Sean Nashold, Robert G. WebsterInvestigation of algal toxins in a multispecies seabird die-off in the Bering and Chukchi seas
Between 2014 and 2017, widespread seabird mortality events were documented annually in the Bering and Chukchi seas, concurrent with dramatic reductions of sea ice, warmer than average ocean temperatures, and rapid shifts in marine ecosystems. Among other changes in the marine environment, harmful algal blooms (HABs) that produce the neurotoxins saxitoxin (STX) and domoic acid (DA) have been identiAuthorsCaroline R. Van Hemert, Robert J. Dusek, Matthew M. Smith, Robert Kaler, Gay Sheffield, Lauren M. Divine, Kathy J. Kuletz, Susan Knowles, Julia S. Lankton, D. Ransom Hardison, R. Wayne Litaker, Timothy Jones, Hillary K. Burgess, Julia K. ParrishQuarterly wildlife mortality report July 2020
The USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) Quarterly Mortality Report provides brief summaries of epizootic mortality and morbidity events by quarter. The write-ups, highlighting epizootic events and other wildlife disease topics of interest, are published in the Wildlife Disease Association quarterly newsletter. A link is provided in this WDA newsletter to the Wildlife Health Information ShaAuthorsBryan J. Richards, Anne Ballmann, Barbara Bodenstein, Robert J. Dusek, Jonathan M. SleemanAvian influenza virus prevalence in marine birds is dependent on ocean temperatures
Waterfowl and shorebirds are the primary hosts of influenza A virus (IAV), however, in most surveillance efforts, large populations of birds are not routinely examined; specifically marine ducks and other birds that reside predominately on or near the ocean. We conducted a long-term study sampling sea ducks and gulls in coastal Maine for IAV and found a virus prevalence (1.7%) much lower than is tAuthorsJeffrey S. Hall, Robert J. Dusek, Sean Nashold, Joshua L. TeSlaa, Bradford R. Allen, Daniel A. GrearQuarterly wildlife mortality report July 2019
No abstract available.AuthorsBryan J. Richards, Robert J. DusekAerosol transmission of gull-origin Iceland subtype H10N7 influenza A virus in ferrets
Subtype H10 influenza A viruses (IAVs) have been recovered from domestic poultry and various aquatic bird species, and sporadic transmission of these IAVs from avian species to mammals (i.e., human, seal, and mink) are well documented. In 2015, we isolated four H10N7 viruses from gulls in Iceland. Genomic analyses showed four gene segments in the viruses were genetically associated with H10 IAVs tAuthorsMinhui Guan, Jeffrey S. Hall, Xiaojian Zhang, Robert J. Dusek, Alicia K. Olivier, Liyuan Liu, Lei Li, Scott Krauss, Angea Danner, Tao Li, Wiriya Rutvisuttinunt, Xiaoxu Lin, Gunnar T. Hallgrimsson, Sunna B. Ragnarsdottir, Solvi R. Vignisson, Josh TeSlaa, Sean Nashold, Richard Jarman, Xiu-Feng WanNon-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.