Rebecca A Cole
Rebecca Cole is the Section Head of the Parasitology Laboratory in the Laboratory Sciences Branch at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center.
Rebecca earned her PhD in Pathobiology from Auburn University, Alabama with a research focus in parasitology. Most of her research has focused on invasive or introduced parasites and parasites of invasive species.
Professional Experience
Research Zoologist, National Wildlife Health Center
Education and Certifications
Ph.D Pathobiology/Parasitology, Auburn University, AL 1994
MSc Biology, Murray State University, Murray KY, 1987
B.A. Biology Minor Chemistry, Maryville College, Maryville, TN
Science and Products
Diagnostic Parasitology Laboratory (DPL)
The Diagnostic Parasitology Laboratory (DPL) supports the USGS National Wildlife Health Center’s diagnostic investigations and conducts research. A variety of procedures are used to identify eukaryotic parasites, including the use of morphological characters, dichotomous taxonomic keys, and DNA sequence analysis.
Parasite sample voucher numbers and 28S rRNA alignment file for parasites collected from California Giant Salamander (Dicamptodon ensatus) from Webb Creek, in the Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve in Santa Clara County, California, USA
A Novel Gonadotropic Microsporidian Parasite (Microsporidium clinchi n. sp.) Infecting a Declining Population of Pheasantshell Mussels (Actinonaias pectorosa) (Unioinidae) from the Clinch River, USA
LAMP assay for detection of Asian fish tapeworm
Carcass weights, 28S rRNA alignment file and parasite sample vouchers collected from California tiger salamanders (Ambystoma californiense) CTS and Santa Cruz long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum) SCLT from Prospect or Ellicott Pond, on E
Lessons learned from using wild-caught and captive-reared lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) in captive experiments
Considerations for colorblind individuals on selecting colorimetric or fluorescent dye assay outcomes
Epistylis spp. infestation in two species of mud turtles (Kinosternon spp.) in the American Southwest
A novel gonadotropic microsporidian parasite (Microsporidium clinchi n. sp.) infecting a declining population of pheasantshell mussels (Actinonaias pectorosa) (Unioinidae) from the Clinch River, USA
Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for detection of Asian fish tapeworm, Schyzocotyle acheilognathi (Yamaguti, 1934) [syn. Bothriocephalus acheilognathi]
Acute mortality in California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense) and Santa Cruz long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum) caused by Ribeiroia ondatrae (Class: Trematoda)
Gapeworm (Syngamus spp.) prevalence in Wisconsin greater prairie chickens (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus)
Diplotriaena obtusa (Nematoda: Diplotriaenidae) from barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) and cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) collected during mortality events in the Upper Midwest, USA
Life cycle of the trout cecal nematode, Truttaedacnitis truttae (Nematoda: Cucullanidae): Experimental and field observations
Pathology in practice: Knemidocoptiasis in a pine grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator)
Associations of intestinal helminth infections with health parameters of spring-migrating female lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) in the upper Midwest, USA
Mass mortality attributed to acanthocephaliasis at a Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) colony in coastal California
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Diagnostic Parasitology Laboratory (DPL)
The Diagnostic Parasitology Laboratory (DPL) supports the USGS National Wildlife Health Center’s diagnostic investigations and conducts research. A variety of procedures are used to identify eukaryotic parasites, including the use of morphological characters, dichotomous taxonomic keys, and DNA sequence analysis.
Parasite sample voucher numbers and 28S rRNA alignment file for parasites collected from California Giant Salamander (Dicamptodon ensatus) from Webb Creek, in the Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve in Santa Clara County, California, USA
A Novel Gonadotropic Microsporidian Parasite (Microsporidium clinchi n. sp.) Infecting a Declining Population of Pheasantshell Mussels (Actinonaias pectorosa) (Unioinidae) from the Clinch River, USA
LAMP assay for detection of Asian fish tapeworm
Carcass weights, 28S rRNA alignment file and parasite sample vouchers collected from California tiger salamanders (Ambystoma californiense) CTS and Santa Cruz long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum) SCLT from Prospect or Ellicott Pond, on E
Lessons learned from using wild-caught and captive-reared lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) in captive experiments
Considerations for colorblind individuals on selecting colorimetric or fluorescent dye assay outcomes
Epistylis spp. infestation in two species of mud turtles (Kinosternon spp.) in the American Southwest
A novel gonadotropic microsporidian parasite (Microsporidium clinchi n. sp.) infecting a declining population of pheasantshell mussels (Actinonaias pectorosa) (Unioinidae) from the Clinch River, USA
Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for detection of Asian fish tapeworm, Schyzocotyle acheilognathi (Yamaguti, 1934) [syn. Bothriocephalus acheilognathi]
Acute mortality in California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense) and Santa Cruz long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum) caused by Ribeiroia ondatrae (Class: Trematoda)
Gapeworm (Syngamus spp.) prevalence in Wisconsin greater prairie chickens (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus)
Diplotriaena obtusa (Nematoda: Diplotriaenidae) from barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) and cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) collected during mortality events in the Upper Midwest, USA
Life cycle of the trout cecal nematode, Truttaedacnitis truttae (Nematoda: Cucullanidae): Experimental and field observations
Pathology in practice: Knemidocoptiasis in a pine grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator)
Associations of intestinal helminth infections with health parameters of spring-migrating female lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) in the upper Midwest, USA
Mass mortality attributed to acanthocephaliasis at a Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) colony in coastal California
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.