Vicki S Blazer
Biography
Vicki has been with the National Fish Health Research Laboratory, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV since 1992. She is active in numerous research projects within the Northeast as well as nationally and internationally. She is active in the American Fisheries Society Fish Health Section and a member of other scientific societies. She is an adjunct faculty member at West Virginia University and Penn State and serves on graduate student committees. Research areas include development of microscopic and molecular markers for understanding changes in the health and populations of wild fishes. Areas of focus include endocrine disruption, emerging diseases, fish tumor pathology and assessment at Great Lakes Areas of Concern, land use influences on fish health, reproduction and immunomodulation.
Education:
- B.S. in Marine Science and Biology Southampton College, Long Island University.
- PhD in Fisheries, Aquaculture and Pathology, Rhode Island University
Professional Expericences:
- Postdoctoral Research Associate, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia
- Assistant Leader, Georgia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, School of Forest Resources, University of Georgia
- Research Fishery Biologist, Leetown Science Center
Affiliations:
- Adjunct Professor, West Virginia University
- Adjunct Professor, Penn State University
Science and Products
Bioaccumulation of Mercury in Fish Varied by Species and Location in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed—Summary of Existing Data and a Roadmap for Integrated Monitoring
Fish mercury data from State monitoring programs and research studies within the Chesapeake Bay were compiled and summarized to provide a comprehensive overview of the variation in fish mercury concentrations among species and habitats within the watershed. These data are put into context with existing health benchmarks for humans, birds, and fish. Scientists also provide a roadmap for an...
Prevalence of Malignant Melanoma in Brown Bullhead from Lake Memphremagog Greater than Expected—Linkages to Contaminant Exposure and Implications for Fish Population Health are Currently Unknown
Raised black lesions observed in 30 percent of the brown bullhead collected from two sites in Lake Memphremagog from 2014 through 2017 were identified microscopically as malignant melanoma. Malignant melanoma in freshwater fishes has been reported before, but this cancer occurrence cluster is raising questions about the cause of the tumors and the implications for the long-term health of fish...
An ecosystem approach to assessing unconventional oil and gas impacts in aquatic ecosystems
The development of unconventional oil and gas (UOG) technology promises economic, societal and national security benefits. However, technological developments in this field have rapidly outpaced scientific studies on potential environmental effects. The effects of accidental UOG-related spills on environmental health are not adequately characterized, often occur in already ecological...
Point and Non-Point Sources of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds and the Potential Effects on Fish and Frogs in the New Jersey Pinelands
Point and Non-Point Sources of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds and the Potential Effects on Fish and Frogs in the New Jersey Pinelands
Fishing and Hunting Science Team
The Fishing and Hunting integrated science team focuses on contaminant and pathogen exposures in the environment that could impact the presence and vitality of fish and wildlife populations that drive commercial, recreational and subsistence activities such as hunting and fishing. If actual risks are identified this project will inform how to economically and effectively minimize...
Point and Nonpoint Sources of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds and the Potential effects on Fish and Frogs in the New Jersey Pinelands
Scientists from the NJ WSC, Leetown Science Center and New Jersey Pinelands Commission recently initiated a 4 year study designed to characterize the point and non-point sources of endocrine disrupting compound (EDCs) and their potential effects on fish and frogs in the NJ Pinelands.
Striped bass with mycobacteriosis
Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) displaying ulcerative skin lesions and chronic wasting, both typical clinical signs of mycobacteriosis, a bacterial disease that is problematic among many types of fishes around the world.
Trout with “blacktail” associated with whirling disease
Whirling disease, caused by the myxosporean parasite Myxobolus cerebralis was identified as an emerging pathogen of trout in the intermountain west region of the U.S. in the early 1990’s. Investigators here worked collaboratively with others to further our understanding of this disease and its impacts on trout and other salmonid fishes.
Rainbow trout with bacterial lesions
This rainbow trout is displaying clinical signs of enteric redmouth disease caused by a systemic bacterial infection.
Is White Sucker Tumor Prevalence in some Wisconsin Rivers Related to Environmental Contaminant Exposures or Other Factors?
The incidence of particular skin and liver tumors on white suckers collected from some Wisconsin rivers corresponded to the degree of urban development within the watershed. Further research is needed to understand the relationship between exposure to urban-sourced contaminants and the initiation, promotion, and potential for population-level effects of these tumors.
West Coast Fish Pathogen Now Found in the East
Research by the USGS identified a fish pathogen similar to one previously found in the United States only in Pacific salmonids -- salmon and trout species -- in the eastern United States and in a non-salmon species.
USGS Fish Health Scientist Shares Thoughts on Chesapeake Restoration
USGS fish biologist describes what the Chesapeake Bay means to her.
Development of a suite of functional immune assays and initial assessment of their utility in wild smallmouth bass health assessments
Methods were developed for measuring immune function in Micropterus dolomieu (smallmouth bass). The ultimate objective is to monitor and evaluate changes over time in immune status and disease resistance in conjunction with other characteristics of fish health and environmental stressors. To test these methods for utility in ecotoxicological...
Smith, Cheyenne R.; Ottinger, Christopher A.; Walsh, Heather L.; Blazer, Vicki S.
Effects of early life stage exposure of largemouth bass to atrazine or a model estrogen (17α-ethinylestradiol)
Endocrine disrupting contaminants are of continuing concern for potentially contributing to reproductive dysfunction in largemouth and smallmouth bass in the Chesapeake Bay watershed (CBW) and elsewhere. Exposures to atrazine (ATR) have been hypothesized to have estrogenic effects on vertebrate endocrine systems. The incidence of intersex in male...
Leet, Jessica Kristin; Richter, Catherine A.; Cornman, Robert S.; Berninger, Jason P.; Bhandari, Ramji K.; Nicks, Diane K.; Zajicek, James L.; Blazer, Vicki S.; Tillitt, Donald E. The effects of tissue fixation on sequencing and transcript abundance of nucleic acids from microdissected liver samples of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu)
There is an increasing emphasis on effects-based monitoring to document responses associated with exposure to complex mixtures of chemicals, climate change, pathogens, parasites and other environmental stressors in fish populations. For decades aquatic monitoring programs have included the collection of tissues preserved for microscopic pathology...
Walsh, Heather L.; Blazer, Vicki S.; Sperry, Adam Modified QuEChERS extraction for the analysis of young-of-year smallmouth bass using GC × GC-TOFMS
Signs of disease, such as external lesions, have been prevalent in smallmouth bass throughout the Susquehanna River Basin, USA. Previous targeted chemical studies in this system have identified known persistent organic pollutants, but a common explanatory link across multiple affected sites remains undetermined. A fast and robust extraction method...
Teehan, Paige; Schall, Megan K.; Blazer, Vicki S.; Gruber, Beate; Dorman, Frank L Hyperpigmented melanistic skin lesions of smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu from the Chesapeake Bay watershed
Hyperpigmented melanistic skin lesions (HPMLs) of smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu are observed in the Potomac and Susquehanna rivers, Chesapeake Bay watershed, USA. Routine, nonlethal population surveys were conducted at 8 sites on the mainstem Susquehanna River and 9 on the Juniata River, a tributary of the Susquehanna River,...
Blazer, Vicki S.; Young, Kelsey T.; Smith, Geoffrey D.; Sperry, Adam; Iwanowicz, Luke R. Draft genome of an adomavirus associated with raised mucoid skin lesions on smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu)
Raised mucoid skin lesions have been observed on smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) for years. Here we report a draft genome of a novel adomavirus (Micropterus dolomieu adomavirus 2) associated with this disease. The circular genome is 17,561 bp and most similar to that of alpha-Adomaviruses.
Iwanowicz, Luke; Young, Kelsey T.; Adams, Cynthia R.; Blazer, Vicki S.; Smith, Geoffrey; Cornman, Robert S. Mercury bioaccumulation in freshwater fishes of the Chesapeake Bay watershed
Chemical contaminants are a threat to the Chesapeake Bay watershed, with mercury (Hg) among the most prevalent causes of impairment. Despite this, large-scale patterns of Hg concentrations, and the potential risks to fish, wildlife, and humans across the watershed, are poorly understood. We compiled fish Hg data from state monitoring programs and...
Willacker, James; Eagles-Smith, Collin; Blazer, Vicki S.
Assessment of microscopic pathology in fishes collected at sites impacted by wood tar in Pennsylvania
In an effort to determine whether fish populations in an area affected by wood tar waste exhibited health effects, fish were collected and analyzed with histopathology. Multiple species, including Mottled Sculpin (Cottus bairdii), Creek Chub (Semotilus atromaculatus), White Sucker (Catostumus commersonii), Redside Dace (Clinostomus elongatus),...
Walsh, Heather L.; Blazer, Vicki S.; Mazik, Patricia M.; Sperry, Adam J.; Pavlick, Diana Reconnaissance of surface water estrogenicity and the prevalence of intersex in smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) inhabiting New Jersey
The observation of testicular oocytes in male fishes has been utilized as a biomarker of estrogenic endocrine disruption. A reconnaissance project led in the Northeastern United States (US) during the period of 2008–2010 identified a high prevalence of intersex smallmouth bass on or near US Fish & Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuges...
Iwanowicz, Luke; Smalling, Kelly; Blazer, Vicki S.; Braham, Ryan P.; Sanders, Lakyn R.; Boetsma, Anna; Procopio, Nick; Goodrow, Sandra; Buchanan, Gary; Millemann, Daniel; Ruppel, Bruce; Vile, John; Henning, Brian; Abatemarco, John Malignant melanoma of Brown Bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) in Lake Memphremagog, Vermont/Quebec
In 2012, brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) with large, raised, black growths were first reported from multiple areas within the Vermont portion of Lake Memphremagog. Subsequent surveys conducted from 2014 to 2017 at two sites within the lake indicated a prevalence of 30% in adult brown bullhead 200 mm and above total length. These lesions...
Blazer, Vicki S.; Shaw, Cassidy H.; Smith, Cheyenne R.; Emerson, P; Jones, Thomas R. Comparisons of stereological and other approaches for quantifying macrophage aggregates in piscine spleens
Macrophage aggregates (MA s) are focal accumulations of pigmented macrophages in the spleen and other tissues of fish. A central role of MA s is the clearance and destruction of degenerating cells and recycling of some cellular components. Macrophage aggregates also respond to chemical contaminants and infectious agents and may play a role in the...
Matsche, Mark A; Blazer, Vicki S.; Mazik, Patricia M. In vitro immune function in laboratory-reared age-0 smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) relative to diet
Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) are used as an indicator species in environmental monitoring and assessment studies. However, laboratory-based studies for methods development and effector assessment are limited for this species. Nutrition, a known modulator of teleost physiological responses including immune function, is a critical...
Ottinger, Christopher A.; Smith, Cheyenne R.; Blazer, Vicki S.
‘Forever chemicals’ found in Chesapeake region's freshwater fish
Bay Journal — By Timothy Wheeler — August 25, 2020
Mercury Bioaccumulation in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Despite the prevalence of mercury contamination in the Chesapeake Bay, large-scale patterns of mercury concentrations, and potential risks to fish, wildlife, and humans across the watershed, are poorly understood.
Smallmouth woes range from contaminants to more stress at spawning sites
Bay Journal — by Ad Crable — January 29, 2020
Executive Review: 2019 Mid-Atlantic Smallmouth Bass Health Assessment
Potomac Riverkeeper Network — October 14, 2019
Scientists scrutinize virus, contaminants in smallmouth bass die-off
Bay Journal — by Donna Morelli — July 5, 2018
High Rate of Tumors Found on white sucker in some Wisconsin Rivers
There is an elevated incidence of skin and liver tumors among White Suckers caught in certain Wisconsin rivers that flow into Lake Michigan according to a U.S. Geological Survey study recently published in the Journal of Fish Diseases.
West Coast Fish Pathogen Now Found in the East
A fish pathogen similar to one previously found in the United States only in Pacific salmonids -- salmon and trout species -- has been identified for the first time in the eastern United States and in a non-salmon species, according to new research by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Intersex Fish Now in Three Pennsylvania River Basins
Intersex fish have been found in Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna, Delaware and Ohio river basins, indicating that the effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals are more widespread than previously known. Previously sampling within the Chesapeake Bay drainage indicated signs of reproductive endocrine disruption in the Potomac river basin.