In a comprehensive study recently published in Ecology and Evolution, CEID members Maria L Müller‐Theissen, Nicole L Gottdenker, and Sonia M Altizer explore how closely related milkweed butterflies manage infections by their protozoan parasites. The researchers conducted cross-infection experiments between two sympatric species—the migratory monarch (Danaus plexippus) and the more […]
A recent study published in Ecology and Evolution by CEID members Annakate Schatz and Andrew Park has provided new evidence that invasive mammals may be reducing the diversity of parasites in ecosystems by replacing native host species. The research investigates a phenomenon known as the ‘vacated niche hypothesis,’ which proposes […]
A research team including CEID member Andrew Park have identified serologic evidence of avian influenza A(H5N1) infections in horses, adding to growing concerns about the ongoing global H5N1 outbreak. Over a two-year period, horses from two distinct ecological regions were tested for antibodies against H5N1. The Arkangai Province, with extensive […]
CEID members Christopher A. Cleveland and Michael J. Yabsley were authors on a recent study revealing that Trichomonas gypaetinii, a parasitic protozoan, is widely present in Bald Eagles across the United States, affecting nearly 88% of the birds sampled. This parasite, primarily known to infect vultures in Europe, was detected […]
CEID members Stacey Lance and Sonia Hernandez are authors on a recent paper investigating the complex interactions between mercury (Hg) exposure, urbanization, and Salmonella infection in White Ibis. The study aimed to determine whether urbanization affects mercury levels in these birds and if mercury exposure influences their susceptibility to Salmonella. […]
CEID members Michael Yabsley and Christopher Cleveland are authors on a recent paper that has revealed new insights into the prevalence of Baylisascaris procyonis, commonly known as raccoon roundworm, among wild rodents in central Georgia. This zoonotic parasitic nematode, primarily found in raccoons, can infect a range of animals, including […]
Bats are incredibly diverse organisms with over 1400 species documented worldwide, occupying a variety of ecological niches. This diversity extends to their status as pathogen reservoirs. Bats are host to a wide range of pathogens that includes Ebola virus, Marburg virus, Nipah virus, Hendra virus, Rabies, and coronaviruses like SARS-CoV-2. […]
As infectious disease modelers, one of the greatest challenges we face is in accurately reflecting the complexities of transmission, particularly human behavior. Important factors we must consider, like adherence to public health measures and variations in social distancing, are difficult or even impossible to measure directly. We are then led […]
Prior to large scale immunization programs introduced in the 1940s, pertussis, or whooping cough, was a leading cause of childhood mortality. Despite this, pertussis has experienced a resurgence in recent decades, the cause for which remains a contested subject. One hypothesis suggests that immunological blunting—where maternally transferred antibodies potentially interfere […]
Monarch butterflies in North America are plagued by a debilitating protozoan parasite. A new study from the University of Georgia showed that constant exposure to high temperatures severely limits parasite development and also lowers monarch survival. The findings, recently published in Proceedings of the Royal Society Series B, have implications […]
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