Thierry M Work
Dr. Thierry M Work is currently the project leader for the National Wildlife Health Center Honolulu Field Station where he leads a team that provides support to safeguard wildlife and ecosystem health through research and technical assistance to federal, state, and international partners.
Professional Experience
1992-Present: Project leader, USGS National Wildlife Health Center Honolulu Field Station
1987-1992: Wildlife veterinarian, California Department of Fish & Game
Education and Certifications
1989 Masters in Preventive Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis
1988 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis
1985 Master Science, Entomology, UC Davis
1983 Bachelor Science, Entomology, Texas A&M
Affiliations and Memberships*
Wildlife Disease Association
Sigma Xi
Science and Products
Long-distance translocations to create a second millerbird population and reduce extinction risk
Emerging coral diseases in Kāne'ohe Bay, O'ahu, Hawai'i (USA): two major disease outbreaks of acute Montipora white syndrome
Effects of Coralliophila violacea on tissue loss in the scleractinian corals Porites spp. depend on host response
Validation of ultrasound as a noninvasive tool to measure subcutaneous fat depth in leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea)
Toxoplasma gondii antibody prevalence and two new genotypes of the parasite in endangered Hawaiian Geese (nene: Branta sandvicensis)
Proceedings of the 2015 international summit on fibropapillomatosis: Global status, trends, and population impacts
Mortality patterns in endangered Hawaiian geese (Nene; Branta sandvicensis)
Explained and unexplained tissue loss in corals from the Tropical Eastern Pacific
Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) have novel asymmetrical antibodies
Topsy-turvy: Turning the counter-current heat exchange of leatherback turtles upside down
Assessing threats from coral and crustose coralline algae disease on the reefs of New Caledonia
Causes of mortality in green turtles from Hawaii and the insular Pacific exclusive of fibropapillomatosis
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: 167
Long-distance translocations to create a second millerbird population and reduce extinction risk
Translocation is a conservation tool used with increasing frequency to create additional populations of threatened species. In addition to following established general guidelines for translocations, detailed planning to account for unique circumstances and intensive post-release monitoring to document outcomes and guide management are essential components of these projects. Recent translocation oAuthorsHolly Freifeld, Sheldon Plentovich, Chris Farmer, Charles Kohley, Peter Luscomb, Thierry M. Work, Daniel Tsukayama, George Wallace, Mark MacDonald, Sheila ConantEmerging coral diseases in Kāne'ohe Bay, O'ahu, Hawai'i (USA): two major disease outbreaks of acute Montipora white syndrome
In March 2010 and January 2012, we documented 2 widespread and severe coral disease outbreaks on reefs throughout Kāne‘ohe Bay, Hawai‘i (USA). The disease, acute Montipora white syndrome (aMWS), manifested as acute and progressive tissue loss on the common reef coral M. capitata. Rapid visual surveys in 2010 revealed 338 aMWS-affected M. capitata colonies with a disease abundance of (mean ± SE) 0.AuthorsGreta S. Aeby, Sean Callahan, Evelyn F. Cox, Christina M. Runyon, Ashley Smith, Frank G. Stanton, Blake Ushijima, Thierry M. WorkEffects of Coralliophila violacea on tissue loss in the scleractinian corals Porites spp. depend on host response
We investigated interactions between the corallivorous gastropod Coralliophila violacea and its preferred hosts Porites spp. Our objectives were to experimentally determine whether tissue loss could progress in Porites during or after Coralliophila predation on corals with and without tissue loss and to histologically document snail predation. In 64% of feeding scars, tissue regenerated within 3 wAuthorsL. Raymundo, Thierry M. Work, R. L. Miller, P.L. Lozada-MisaValidation of ultrasound as a noninvasive tool to measure subcutaneous fat depth in leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea)
Leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) undergo substantial cyclical changes in body condition between foraging and nesting. Ultrasonography has been used to measure subcutaneous fat as an indicator of body condition in many species but has not been applied in sea turtles. To validate this technique in leatherback turtles, ultrasound images were obtained from 36 live-captured and dead-strandedAuthorsHeather S. Harris, Scott R. Benson, Michael C. James, Kelly J. Martin, Brian A. Stacy, Pierre-Yves Daoust, Paul M. Rist, Thierry M. Work, George H. Balazs, Jeffrey A. SeminoffToxoplasma gondii antibody prevalence and two new genotypes of the parasite in endangered Hawaiian Geese (nene: Branta sandvicensis)
Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite transmitted by domestic cats (Felis catus) that has historically caused mortality in native Hawaiian birds. To estimate how widespread exposure to the parasite is in nene (Hawaiian Geese, Branta sandvicensis), we did a serologic survey for T. gondii antibody and genetically characterized parasite DNA from the tissues of dead birds that had confirmed infectAuthorsThierry M. Work, Shiv K. Verma, Chunlei Su, John Medeiros, Thomas Kaiakapu, Oliver C. Kwok, Jitender P. DubeyProceedings of the 2015 international summit on fibropapillomatosis: Global status, trends, and population impacts
The 2015 International Summit on Fibropapillomatosis (FP) was convened in Honolulu, Hawaii June 11-14, 2015. Scientists from around the world were invited to present results from sea turtle monitoring and research programs as they relate to the global status, trends, and population impacts of FP on green turtles. The participants engaged in discussions that resulted in the following conclusions: 1AuthorsStacy A. Hargrove, Thierry M. Work, Shandell Brunson, Allen M. Foley, George H. BalazsMortality patterns in endangered Hawaiian geese (Nene; Branta sandvicensis)
Understanding causes of death can aid management and recovery of endangered bird populations. Toward those ends, we systematically examined 300 carcasses of endangered Hawaiian Geese (Nene; Branta sandvicensis) from Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, and Kauai between 1992 and 2013. The most common cause of death was emaciation, followed by trauma (vehicular strikes and predation), and infectious/inflammatoryAuthorsThierry M. Work, Julie Dagenais, Robert Rameyer, Renee BreedenExplained and unexplained tissue loss in corals from the Tropical Eastern Pacific
Coral reefs rival rainforest in biodiversity, but are declining in part because of disease. Tissue loss lesions, a manifestation of disease, are present in dominant Pocillopora along the Pacific coast of Mexico. We characterized tissue loss in 7 species of Pocillopora from 9 locations (44 sites) spanning southern to northern Mexico. Corals were identified to species, and tissue loss lesions were pAuthorsJenny Carolina Rodriguez-Villalobos, Thierry M. Work, Luis Eduardo Calderon-Aguilera, Hector Reyes-Bonilla, Luis HernándezGreen turtles (Chelonia mydas) have novel asymmetrical antibodies
Igs in vertebrates comprise equally sized H and L chains, with exceptions such as H chain–only Abs in camels or natural Ag receptors in sharks. In Reptilia, Igs are known as IgYs. Using immunoassays with isotype-specific mAbs, in this study we show that green turtles (Chelonia mydas) have a 5.7S 120-kDa IgY comprising two equally sized H/L chains with truncated Fc and a 7S 200-kDa IgY comprised ofAuthorsThierry M. Work, Julie Dagenais, Renee Breeden, Anette Schneemann, Joyce Sung, Brian Hew, George H. Balazs, John M. BeresteckyTopsy-turvy: Turning the counter-current heat exchange of leatherback turtles upside down
Counter-current heat exchangers associated with appendages of endotherms feature bundles of closely applied arteriovenous vessels. The accepted paradigm is that heat from warm arterial blood travelling into the appendage crosses into cool venous blood returning to the body. High core temperature is maintained, but the appendage functions at low temperature. Leatherback turtles have elevated core tAuthorsJohn Davenport, T. Todd Jones, Thierry M. Work, George H. BalazsAssessing threats from coral and crustose coralline algae disease on the reefs of New Caledonia
The present study reports the results of the first quantitative survey of lesions on coral and crustose coralline algae (CCA) on reefs in the lagoon of New Caledonia. Surveys on inshore and offshore reefs were conducted at 13 sites in 2010, with 12 sites resurveyed in 2013. Thirty coral diseases affecting 15 coral genera were found, with low overall disease prevalence (<1%). This study extends theAuthorsGreta S. Aeby, Aline Tribollet, Gregory Lasne, Thierry M. WorkCauses of mortality in green turtles from Hawaii and the insular Pacific exclusive of fibropapillomatosis
Fibropapillomatosis (FP) comprises a majority of green turtle stranding in Hawaii; however, green turtles in the Pacific are also susceptible to non-FP related causes of death. We present here necropsy findings from 230 free-ranging green turtles originating from Hawaii, the Mariana archipelago, Palmyra Atoll, American Samoa, and Johnston Atoll that died from non-FP related causes. Most turtles diAuthorsThierry M. Work, George H. Balazs, Tammy M. Summers, Jessy R. Hapdei, Alden P. TagarinoNon-USGS Publications**
Beale, A.M., Higgins, R.J., Work, T.M., Bailey, C.S., Smith, M.O., Shinka, T., and Hammock, B.D. (1989). MPTP-induced parkinson-like disease in sheep: Clinical and pathologic findings. Journal of Environmental Pathology and Toxicology 9, 417-428.
Hammock, B.D., Beale, A.M., Work, T.M., Gee, S.J., Gunther, R., Higgins, R.J., Shinka, T., and Castagnoli, N. (1989). A sheep model for MPTP induced parkinson-like symptoms. Life Sciences 45, 1601-1608.
Jessup, D.A., Work, T.M., Bushnell, R., Sawyer, M.M., and Osburn, B.I. (1990). An outbreak of bluetongue in captive deer and adjacent livestock in Kern county, California. California Fish and Game 76, 83-90.
Work, T.M., and Jessup, D.A. (1990). Epidemiology and pathology of hemorrhagic disease in free-ranging black-tailed deer in California: 1986-1987. Transactions of the Western Section of the Wildlife Society 26, 72-76.
Work, T.M., Sawyer, M.M., Jessup, D.A., Washino, R.K., and Osburn, B.I. (1990). Effects of anaesthetization and storage temperature on bluetongue virus recovery from Culicoides variipennis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) and sheep blood. Journal of medical entomology 27, 331-333.
Work, T.M., Washino, R.K., and Van RIper, I.I.I., C (1990). Comparative susceptibility of Culex tarsalis, Anopheles franciscanus and Culiseta inornata (Diptera: Culicidae) to Plasmodium relictum (Haemosporidia: Plasmodiiae). Journal of medical entomology 27, 68-71.
Work, T.M., Mullens, B.A., and Jessup, D.A. (1991). Estimation of survival and gonotrophic cycle length of Culicoides variipennis (Diptera; Ceratopogonidae) in California. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association 7, 242-249.
Fritz, L., Quilliam, M.A., Wright, J.L.C., Beale, A.M., and Work, T.M. (1992). An outbreak of domoic acid poisoning attributed to the pennate diatom Pseudonitzschia australis. J Phycol 28, 439-442.
Work, T.M., Jessup, D.A., and Sawyer, M.M. (1992). Experimental bluetongue and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus infeciton in black-tailed deer. J Wildl Dis 28, 623-628.
Work, T.M., Barr, B., Beale, A., Fritz, L., Quilliam, M.A., and Wright, J.L.C. (1993). Epidemiology of domoic acid poisoning in brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) and Brandt's cormorants (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) in California. J Zoo Wildl Med 24, 54-62.
Work, T.M., Beale, A.M., Fritz, L., Quilliam, M.A., Silver, M., Buck, K., and Wright, J. (1993). Domoic acid intoxication of brown pelicans and cormorants in Santa Cruz, California. In Toxic phytoplankton blooms in the sea, T. Smayda, ed. (Copenhagen: Elsiever), pp. 643-649.
Work, T.M., DeLong, R.L., Spraker, T.R., and Melin, S.R. (1993). Halothane anesthesia as a method of immobilizing free-ranging California sea lions (Zalophus californianus). J Zoo Wildl Med 24, 482-487.
Chomel, B.B., Carniciu, M.L., Kasten, R.W., Castelli, P.M., Work, T.M., and Jessup, D.A. (1994). Antibody prevalence of eight ruminant infectious diseases in California mule and black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemioneus). J Wildl Dis 30, 51-59.
Patton, J.F., Work, T.M., Jessup, D.A., Hietala, S.K., Oliver, M.N., and MacLachlan, N.J. (1994). Serologic detection of bluetongue virus infection of black-tailed deer:comparison of the serum neutralization, agar gel immunodiffusion, and competitive ELISA assays. J Wildl Dis 30, 99-102.
Paul-Murphy, J., Work, T., Hunter, D.B., McFie, E., and Fjelline, D. (1994). Serologic survey and serum biochemical reference ranges of the free-ranging mountain lion (Felis concolor) in California. J Wildl Dis 30, 205-215.**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.
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*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government