Publications

serologic evidence of infection with granulocytic ehrlichiae in black bears in pennsylvania.	serum samples from 381 black bears (ursus americanus) killed in pennsylvania (usa) on 24 november 1997 were analyzed for antibodies reactive to the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (hge; ehrlichia sp.) by indirect immunofluorescence assay. antibody reactivity to hge antigen was detected in 21% (81/381) of the samples collected. reactive samples were reported from 56% (14/25) of the counties where bear samples were collected. endpoint antibody titer ranged from 1:8 to 1:16, 192, with a ge ...	2002	11838228
ticks and tick-borne pathogens and putative symbionts of black bears (ursus americanus floridanus) from georgia and florida.	ticks were collected from 38 black bears (ursus americanus floridanus) from northwestern florida (n = 18) from 2003 to 2005 and southern georgia (n = 20) in 2006. five species (amblyomma americanum, a. maculatum, dermacentor variabilis, ixodes scapularis, and i. affinis) were collected from florida bears, and 4 species (a. americanum, a. maculatum, d. variabilis, i. scapularis) were collected from bears in georgia. ixodes scapularis was the most frequently collected tick, followed by d. variabil ...	2009	19413369
detection of human bacterial pathogens in ticks collected from louisiana black bears (ursus americanus luteolus).	there are 4 major human-biting tick species in the northeastern united states, which include: amblyomma americanum, amblyomma maculatum, dermacentor variabilis, and ixodes scapularis. the black bear is a large mammal that has been shown to be parasitized by all the aforementioned ticks. we investigated the bacterial infections in ticks collected from louisiana black bears (ursus americanus subspecies luteolus). eighty-six ticks were collected from 17 black bears in louisiana from june 2010 to ma ...	2013	23415850
serosurvey for selected pathogens in free-ranging american black bears (ursus americanus) in maryland, usa.	american black bears (ursus americanus) in maryland, usa, live in forested areas in close proximity to humans and their domestic pets. from 1999 to 2011, we collected 84 serum samples from 63 black bears (18 males; 45 females) in five maryland counties and tested them for exposure to infectious, including zoonotic, pathogens. a large portion of the bears had antibody to canine distemper virus and toxoplasma gondii, many at high titers. prevalences of antibodies to zoonotic agents such as rabies ...	2014	25075540
demographic characteristics and infectious diseases of a population of american black bears in humboldt county, california.	american black bears (ursus americanus) are common, widely distributed, and broad-ranging omnivorous mammals in northern california forests. bears may be susceptible to pathogens infecting both domestic animals and humans. monitoring bear populations, particularly in changing ecosystems, is important to understanding ecological features that could affect bear population health and influence the likelihood that bears may cause adverse impacts on humans. in all, 321 bears were captured between may ...	2015	25700042
american black bears as hosts of blacklegged ticks (acari: ixodidae) in the northeastern united states.	ticks and whole blood were collected from american black bears (ursus americanus pallas) between october 2011 and october 2012 across four counties in northwestern new jersey, an area where blacklegged ticks (ixodes scapularis say) and their associated tick-borne pathogens are prevalent. adult american dog ticks (dermacentor variabilis say) were the most frequently collected tick species in late spring, whereas adult and nymphal blacklegged ticks were found in both the late spring and fall month ...	2015	26336232
prevalence of anaplasma phagocytophilum in north carolina eastern black bears ( ursus americanus ).	we detected anaplasma phagocytophilum by dna amplification in whole blood from free-ranging, hunter-killed american black bears ( ursus americanus ) from the east coast of north carolina, us. molecular prevalence for anaplasma phagocytophilum was 3% from 68 black bears. no dna of other anaplasma or ehrlichia spp. was identified.	2016	27479929