Images

Photomicrographs from a wing roll of a little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus). PAS. (A) At low magnification, PAS-positive foci are easily detectable. (B) Multifocal cup-shaped ulcers (thick arrow) of the epidermis are scattered over the wing membrane surface. Inflammatory response is lacking.

Little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) from an experimental infection trial with similar gross lesions as observed in this case. (A) Variably sized areas of depigmentation are widely distributed on the patagium. (B) Under UV-light, large areas of the patagium fluoresce orange.

White-nose syndrome (WNS) has continued to spread rapidly. Bats with white-nose syndrome have been confirmed in 33 states and seven Canadian provinces as of August 2019.

Photomicrographs from a Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata) from a California aviary that was found dead. (A) Numerous yeasts are present in the lumen (*) of the proventriculus. H&E stain. (B)  The yeasts are 2 x 40 um, basophilic, rod-shaped and occur in stacks. H&E stain.

(A) Photomicrograph from a Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) from Wisconsin shows a normal thyroid gland for comparison.  Within the thyroid gland there are variably-sized follicles filled lined by cuboidal epithelium (arrowhead) and filled with colloid (*). H&E stain.

Photographs from a Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) found dead in Arizona, US.  (A) The crop (*) is distended primarily with milo.  (B) A green coating (arrowheads) is evident on the surface of the milo.

Wildlife disease experts at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, WI examine a double-crested cormorant while wearing full biosafety gear.  The postmortem examination, also known as a necropsy, gives the scientists clues to what may have caused the animal to die.  Examination of wild birds is important to detect pathogens that could imp

Photographs (A &B) from a Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) found dead in Minnesota, US.  (A) The esophagus is dilated and impacted with a large amount of duckweed (arrows).  (B) Forty #9 lead pellets are recovered from the ventriculus.  (C) Photograph from a Bald Eagle

Photographs from a Ross’s Goose (Chen rossii) found dead in Kansas, US.  (A) Petechial hemorrhages along the coronary groove of the epicardium (arrowheads) and military pinpoint tan foci on the capsular surface of the liver (arrows).  (B) Abundant creamy stringy yellow mucoid material (*) fills the lumen of the intestine.

Photomicrographs from a Ross’s Goose (Chen rossii) found dead in Kansas, US.  (A) Multifocally, there are hemorrhages (arrowheads) admixed with bacteria (arrows) in the adipose tissue along the coronary groove of the heart.  H&E stain.  (B) Necrotic hepatocytes (*) and bacteria (arrows) are present in the liver.  H&E stain. 

A newt seen during fieldwork in Wisconsin sampling newts for Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) an emerging fungal pathogen.

Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center Diagnostic Chemistry Laboratory. 

The USGS National Wildlife Health Center developed WHISPers, a partner driven tool that provides a dynamic, timely, searchable web-based system, to increase public awareness of wildlife disease events and promote collaboration and data sharing among wildlife professionals. This is a screen shot of the web-based tool. 

Reported distribution of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in North America in 2017: 24 States and 2 Canadian Provinces have reported the disease in free-ranging and captive cervids.

Healthy elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) on the seafloor along the southeastern coast of Buck Island, U.S. Virgin Islands. Elkhorn coral is one of many important reef-building species that create 3D structure on the seafloor. Coral reef structure provides habitat for marine life and helps break up waves as they approach the coastline.

This photomicrograph shows a liver of a frog with a severe Perkinsea infection.

This microscopic image shows a sun-shaped area within turtle skin cells where chelonid herpesvirus 5 replicates. The virus capsids, or protein shells, are arrayed like a corona around the circle. ChHV5 is associated with fibropapillomatosisa tumor disease affecting endangered green turtles.

This image shows the blue version of sylvatic plague vaccine bait for prairie dogs. 

Prairie dogs in the wild are less likely to succumb to a deadly disease called sylvatic plague after they ingest peanut-butter-flavored bait that contains a vaccine against the disease.

Hawaiian green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas

The arrows in this image point to mouths of individual corallimorphs, which are a type of invasive anemone that typically thrives in coral reefs that have been degraded by environmental or man-made disturbances. Each corallimorph mouth is surrounded by a corona of tentacles.

Coral reefs are prone to phase shifts where they quickly transition from coral-dominated to a uniformity of other organisms, typically algae. The Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the Central Pacific is a unique case where a transition from corals to corallimorphs occurred.