Wildlife Health- Advancing Our Definition
Although wildlife health research has traditionally focused narrowly on disease, there is a growing awareness that defining wildlife health as “the absence of disease” is no longer sufficient.
Archive for May, 2020
Zoo and Wildlife Medicine Study Group
The Zoo and Wildlife Medicine Study Group (ZWMSG) organizes a monthly journal club, which is a FREE online meeting for students, veterinarians, and wildlife professionals from all over the world.
Continued Expansion of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 in North America
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) has continued to spread in wild rabbits in North America.
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute teams up with VetNow to expand zoonotic disease surveillance
VetNow, a virtual care platform that provides veterinary telehealth services, and is collaborating with researchers at the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute to increase disease surveillance.
GENETIC CHARACTERISTICS OF CANINE DISTEMPER VIRUSES CIRCULATING IN WILDLIFE IN THE UNITED STATES
Recently, it was discovered that at least three different CDV lineages that are genetically different from the available vaccine strains are circulating in domestic dogs in the United States. Because wildlife serve as a reservoir for the virus, it is important to determine if wildlife play a role in the maintenance and spread of these lineages.
The value of monitoring wildlife roadkill
The emerging field of “Road Ecology”
DIVERSE BARTONELLA SPP. DETECTED IN WHITE-TAILED DEER AND ASSOCIATED KEDS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES
The overall prevalence of Bartonella infection in this population of deer was 16% (10/63) and 24% (23/96) in keds associated with deer. The detection of four Bartonella species in one population of white-tailed deer, three of which have known zoonotic potential, highlights the importance of Bartonella diversity within host species.
Hair Cortisol Concentration and Body Mass in Moose Infested with Deer Keds
Findings suggested that moose generally tolerated moderate parasitism by keds. However, the increase in hair cortisol concentrations at higher ked intensities suggested that the tolerance strategy could be disrupted with further increases in intensities and consequently may negatively affect animal health and welfare.
LEPTOSPIRA, PARVOVIRUS, AND TOXOPLASMA IN THE NORTH AMERICAN RIVER OTTER IN NORTH CAROLINA, USA
Tested 220 otters (76 females, 144 males) using real-time PCR for Leptospira interrogans, parvovirus, and Toxoplasma gondii. Of the otters tested, 1% (3/220) were positive for L. interrogans, 19% (41/220) were positive for parvovirus, and 24% (53/220) were positive for T. gondii.
NWHC Index of Wildlife Disease Information
The USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) provides an index of wildlife disease information resources as a starting point to learn about selected wildlife diseases
Latest News
Useful Resources
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Updates- February 2024 
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 in the U.S.: Current Updates – February 2024 
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD): Current Updates April 2022 
“Foundations of Wildlife Chemical Capture Course” now available 
Non Human Primate COVID-19 Information Hub
