Susan Knowles
Susan Knowles is a Wildlife Veterinary Pathologist at the National Wildlife Health Center.
She earned a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and completed a residency in veterinary pathology and earned a Doctorate in Veterinary Pathology from the University of Georgia. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. She joined the Center in 2013 and her interests include wildlife, aquatic, invertebrate and toxicologic pathology, and pathogen discovery. Before joining the Center, she gained a variety of experience in and around her native Maryland, performing research on shortnose sturgeon, serving as a Veterinary Officer in the United States Public Health Service stationed at the National Institutes of Health, and working as a Natural Resources Biologist for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources where she was a member of the Fish and Wildlife Health Program and served as the Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding Coordinator for the state.
Professional Experience
2013 – Present Wildlife Veterinary Pathologist, U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WI
2006 – 2013 Resident of Anatomic and Aquatic Pathology and Graduate Assistant, Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
2003 – 2003 Veterinary Officer, Junior COSTEP, United States Public Health Service, Rockville, MD stationed at NIH, Diagnostic and Research Services Branch, Veterinary Pathology, Bethesda, MD
1996 – 2002 Natural Resources Biologist, Maryland Marine Mammal & Sea Turtle Stranding Coordinator, Fish and Wildlife Health Program, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Cooperative Oxford Laboratory, Oxford, MD
1995 – 1996 Histology Technician, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Cooperative Oxford Laboratory, Oxford, MD
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Veterinary Pathology, University of Georgia, 2013
D.V.M., Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, 2006
B.S. Biology, Bucknell University, 1995
Affiliations and Memberships*
Diplomate American College of Veterinary Pathologists
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 16
No Result Found
Filter Total Items: 38
Pathology in practice: Knemidocoptiasis in a pine grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator)
No abstract available.
Authors
Susan Knowles, Jennifer L. Swan, Constance Roderick, Rebecca A. Cole
Detection of Bisgaard taxon 40 in Rhinoceros Auklets (Cerorhinca monocerata) with pneumonia and septicemia from a mortality event in Washington, USA
We isolated Bisgaard taxon 40 from Rhinoceros Auklets (Cerorhinca monocerata) with pneumonia and septicemia from Washington, US, found dead in 2016. Previously isolated only from the respiratory tract of a gull (Laridae), little is known about its pathogenic potential and whether it acts as a primary or opportunistic pathogen.
Authors
Susan Knowles, Barbara Bodenstein, Brenda M. Berlowski-Zier, Susan M Thomas, Scott F Pearson, Jeffrey M. Lorch
Lethal infection of wild raptors with highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N8 and H5N2 viruses in the USA, 2014–15
An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) led to heavy losses of poultry in commercial farms in North America in 2014–15. Enhanced surveillance by virologists and pathologists at the US Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center and its partners resulted in the identification of lethal infections with clade 2.3.4.4 subgroup icA2 H5N8 and novel reassortant H5N2 viruses in diver
Authors
Susan Knowles, Valerie I. Shearn-Bochsler, Hon S. Ip
Building a response network to investigate potential pathogens associated with unionid mortality events
Unexplained mortality events have confounded the mussel conservation community for over 30 years. While the effects of chemical pollutants and environmental factors have been examined, few investigations have focused on the identification of potential mussel pathogens. Consequently, very little is known regarding the impact that pathogens have on freshwater mussel health, especially as they pertai
Authors
Eric Leis, Diane L. Waller, Susan Knowles, Tony Goldberg, Joel G. Putnam, Jordan Richard, Sarah Erickson, Emilie Blevins, Jesse Weinzinger
An update on Toxoplasma gondii infections in northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) from Washington State, USA
Toxoplasmosis in marine mammals is epidemiologically and clinically important. Toxoplasma gondii antibodies (by modified agglutination test, cut-off ≥1:25) were detected in serum of 65 of 70 (92.9%) northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) from Washington State, USA. Brains and/or muscles of 44 sea otters were bioassayed in mice (INF-γ knock-out [KO], Swiss Webster outbred [SW]) and viable T.
Authors
Shiv K. Verma, Susan Knowles, Camila K. Cerqueira-Cezar, Oliver C. Kwok, Tiantian Jiang, Chunlei Su, Jitender P. Dubey
Chlamydia psittaci in feral Rosy-faced Lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis) and other backyard birds in Maricopa County, Arizona
In 2013, a mortality event of nonnative, feral Rosy-faced Lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis) in residential backyards in Maricopa County, Arizona, US was attributed to infection with Chlamydia psittaci. In June 2014, additional mortality occurred in the same region. Accordingly, in August 2014 we sampled live lovebirds and sympatric bird species visiting backyard bird feeders to determine the preva
Authors
Robert J. Dusek, Anne Justice-Allen, Barbara Bodenstein, Susan Knowles, Daniel A. Grear, Laura Adams, Craig Levy, Haley D. Yaglom, Valerie I. Shearn-Bochsler, Paula Ciembor, Christopher R. Gregory, Denise Pesti, Branson W. Ritchie
Infectious canine hepatitis in a brown bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) from Alaska.
We diagnosed infectious canine hepatitis in a free-ranging brown bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) cub from Alaska, US, found dead in October 2015. Intranuclear inclusion bodies were present in hepatocytes, and immunohistochemistry showed reactivity to adenoviral antigens. Sequencing of the hexon protein of adenovirus showed 100% identity to canine adenovirus 1.
Authors
Susan Knowles, Barbara Bodenstein, Troy Hamon, Michael W. Saxton, Jeffrey S. Hall
Mortality trends in northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) collected from the coasts of Washington and Oregon (2002–15)
During 2002−15 we examined the causes of mortality in a population of northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni). Beachcast sea otters were collected primarily from the coast of Washington. Although there are no permanent sea otter residents in Oregon, several beachcast otters were collected from the Oregon coast. Infectious diseases were the primary cause of death (56%) for otters we examined.
Authors
C. LeAnn White, Emily W. Lankau, Deanna Lynch, Susan Knowles, Krysten L. Schuler, Jitender P. Dubey, Valerie I. Shearn-Bochsler, Marcos Isidoro Ayza, Nancy J. Thomas
Natural infections with pigeon paramyxovirus serotype 1: Pathologic changes in Eurasian collared-doves (Streptopelia decaocto) and rock pigeons (Columba livia) in the United States
Pigeon paramyxovirus serotype 1 (PPMV-1) is a globally distributed, virulent member of the avian paramyxovirus serotype 1 serogroup that causes mortality in columbiformes and poultry. Following introduction into the United States in the mid-1980s, PPMV-1 rapidly spread causing numerous mortality events in Eurasian collared-doves (Streptopelia decaocto) (ECDOs) and rock pigeons (Columba livia) (ROP
Authors
Marcos Isidoro Ayza, C.L. Afonso, J.B. Stanton, Susan Knowles, Hon S. Ip, C. LeAnn White, Heather Fenton, M.G. Ruder, A. C. Dolinski, Julia S. Lankton
Lambdapapillomavirus 2 in a gray wolf (Canis lupus) from Minnesota with oral papillomatosis and sarcoptic mange
Oral papillomatosis was diagnosed in a gray wolf (Canis lupus) with sarcoptic mange from Minnesota, USA found dead in February 2015. Intranuclear inclusion bodies were evident histologically, and papillomaviral antigens were confirmed using immunohistochemistry. Sequencing of the L1 papillomavirus gene showed closest similarity to Lambdapapillomavirus 2.
Authors
Susan Knowles, Steve K. Windels, Marie Adams, Jeffrey S. Hall
Snake fungal disease: An emerging threat to wild snakes
Since 2006, there has been a marked increase in the number of reports of severe and often fatal fungal skin infections in wild snakes in the eastern USA. The emerging condition, referred to as snake fungal disease (SFD), was initially documented in rattlesnakes, where the infections were believed to pose a risk to the viability of affected populations. The disease is caused byOphidiomyces ophiodii
Authors
Jeffrey M. Lorch, Susan Knowles, Julia S. Lankton, Kathy Michell, Jaime L. Edwards, Joshua M. Kapfer, Richard A. Staffen, Erik R. Wild, Katie Z. Schmidt, Anne Ballmann, Doug Blodgett, Terence M. Farrell, Brad M. Glorioso, Lisa A. Last, Steven J. Price, Krysten L. Schuler, Christopher Smith, James F. X. Wellehan, David S. Blehert
First detection of bat white-nose syndrome in western North America
White-nose syndrome (WNS) is an emerging fungal disease of bats caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans. Since it was first detected near Albany, NY, in 2006, the fungus has spread across eastern North America, killing unprecedented numbers of hibernating bats. The devastating impacts of WNS on Nearctic bat species are attributed to the likely introduction of P. destructans from Eurasia to naive ho
Authors
Jeffrey M. Lorch, Jonathan M. Palmer, Daniel L. Lindner, Anne Ballmann, Kyle George, Kathryn M. Griffin, Susan Knowles, John R. Huckabee, Katherine H. Haman, Christopher D. Anderson, Penny A. Becker, Joseph B. Buchanan, Jeffrey T. Foster, David S. Blehert
Non-USGS Publications**
Salter CE, O’Donnell K, Sutton DA, Marancik DP, Knowles S, Clauss TM, Berliner AL, Camus AC: Dermatitis and systemic mycosis in a group of lined seahorses Hippocampus erectus associated with a marine-adapted pathogen within the Fusarium solani species complex. Dis Aquat Org 101(1):23-31, 2012.
Page-Karjian A, Knowles S, Howerth E, Berliner A, Clauss T, Hyatt M, Camus A: Pathology in practice. J Am Vet Med Assoc 241(9):1159-1161, 2012.
Knowles S, Blas-Machado U, Butler AM, Gomez-Ibañez SE, Lowder MQ, Fayrer-Hosken RA: Ameloblastic fibro-odontoma associated with a retained molar in an Oldenburg mare. J Vet Diagn Invest 22:987-990, 2010.
Knowles S, Uhl EW, Blas-Machado U, Butler AM: Intrapericardial ectopic thyroid carcinoma in a cat. J Vet Diagn Invest 22:1010-1013, 2010.
Brown YK, Knowles S, Fiorello CV, Camus MS, Howerth EW: Pathology in practice. Morphologic diagnosis: Uterine adenocarcinoma with metastasis to the lungs, diaphragm, spleen, mesentery, and cecum. J Am Vet Med Assoc 237:1257-1259, 2010.
Knowles S, Hrubec TC, Smith SA, Bakal RS: Hematology and plasma chemistry reference intervals for cultured shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum). Vet Clin Pathol 35:434-440, 2006.
Blanchard TW, Santiago NT, Lipscomb TP, Garber RL, McFee WE, Knowles S: Two novel alphaherpesviruses associated with fatal disseminated infections in Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. J Wild Dis 37:297-305, 2001.
Evans JJ, Norden A, Cresswell F, Insley K, and Knowles S: Marine sea turtle strandings in Maryland, 1991 to 1995. The Maryland Naturalist 41:23-34, 1997.
**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.
Filter Total Items: 14
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 16
No Result Found
Filter Total Items: 38
Pathology in practice: Knemidocoptiasis in a pine grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator)
No abstract available.
Authors
Susan Knowles, Jennifer L. Swan, Constance Roderick, Rebecca A. Cole
Detection of Bisgaard taxon 40 in Rhinoceros Auklets (Cerorhinca monocerata) with pneumonia and septicemia from a mortality event in Washington, USA
We isolated Bisgaard taxon 40 from Rhinoceros Auklets (Cerorhinca monocerata) with pneumonia and septicemia from Washington, US, found dead in 2016. Previously isolated only from the respiratory tract of a gull (Laridae), little is known about its pathogenic potential and whether it acts as a primary or opportunistic pathogen.
Authors
Susan Knowles, Barbara Bodenstein, Brenda M. Berlowski-Zier, Susan M Thomas, Scott F Pearson, Jeffrey M. Lorch
Lethal infection of wild raptors with highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N8 and H5N2 viruses in the USA, 2014–15
An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) led to heavy losses of poultry in commercial farms in North America in 2014–15. Enhanced surveillance by virologists and pathologists at the US Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center and its partners resulted in the identification of lethal infections with clade 2.3.4.4 subgroup icA2 H5N8 and novel reassortant H5N2 viruses in diver
Authors
Susan Knowles, Valerie I. Shearn-Bochsler, Hon S. Ip
Building a response network to investigate potential pathogens associated with unionid mortality events
Unexplained mortality events have confounded the mussel conservation community for over 30 years. While the effects of chemical pollutants and environmental factors have been examined, few investigations have focused on the identification of potential mussel pathogens. Consequently, very little is known regarding the impact that pathogens have on freshwater mussel health, especially as they pertai
Authors
Eric Leis, Diane L. Waller, Susan Knowles, Tony Goldberg, Joel G. Putnam, Jordan Richard, Sarah Erickson, Emilie Blevins, Jesse Weinzinger
An update on Toxoplasma gondii infections in northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) from Washington State, USA
Toxoplasmosis in marine mammals is epidemiologically and clinically important. Toxoplasma gondii antibodies (by modified agglutination test, cut-off ≥1:25) were detected in serum of 65 of 70 (92.9%) northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) from Washington State, USA. Brains and/or muscles of 44 sea otters were bioassayed in mice (INF-γ knock-out [KO], Swiss Webster outbred [SW]) and viable T.
Authors
Shiv K. Verma, Susan Knowles, Camila K. Cerqueira-Cezar, Oliver C. Kwok, Tiantian Jiang, Chunlei Su, Jitender P. Dubey
Chlamydia psittaci in feral Rosy-faced Lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis) and other backyard birds in Maricopa County, Arizona
In 2013, a mortality event of nonnative, feral Rosy-faced Lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis) in residential backyards in Maricopa County, Arizona, US was attributed to infection with Chlamydia psittaci. In June 2014, additional mortality occurred in the same region. Accordingly, in August 2014 we sampled live lovebirds and sympatric bird species visiting backyard bird feeders to determine the preva
Authors
Robert J. Dusek, Anne Justice-Allen, Barbara Bodenstein, Susan Knowles, Daniel A. Grear, Laura Adams, Craig Levy, Haley D. Yaglom, Valerie I. Shearn-Bochsler, Paula Ciembor, Christopher R. Gregory, Denise Pesti, Branson W. Ritchie
Infectious canine hepatitis in a brown bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) from Alaska.
We diagnosed infectious canine hepatitis in a free-ranging brown bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) cub from Alaska, US, found dead in October 2015. Intranuclear inclusion bodies were present in hepatocytes, and immunohistochemistry showed reactivity to adenoviral antigens. Sequencing of the hexon protein of adenovirus showed 100% identity to canine adenovirus 1.
Authors
Susan Knowles, Barbara Bodenstein, Troy Hamon, Michael W. Saxton, Jeffrey S. Hall
Mortality trends in northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) collected from the coasts of Washington and Oregon (2002–15)
During 2002−15 we examined the causes of mortality in a population of northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni). Beachcast sea otters were collected primarily from the coast of Washington. Although there are no permanent sea otter residents in Oregon, several beachcast otters were collected from the Oregon coast. Infectious diseases were the primary cause of death (56%) for otters we examined.
Authors
C. LeAnn White, Emily W. Lankau, Deanna Lynch, Susan Knowles, Krysten L. Schuler, Jitender P. Dubey, Valerie I. Shearn-Bochsler, Marcos Isidoro Ayza, Nancy J. Thomas
Natural infections with pigeon paramyxovirus serotype 1: Pathologic changes in Eurasian collared-doves (Streptopelia decaocto) and rock pigeons (Columba livia) in the United States
Pigeon paramyxovirus serotype 1 (PPMV-1) is a globally distributed, virulent member of the avian paramyxovirus serotype 1 serogroup that causes mortality in columbiformes and poultry. Following introduction into the United States in the mid-1980s, PPMV-1 rapidly spread causing numerous mortality events in Eurasian collared-doves (Streptopelia decaocto) (ECDOs) and rock pigeons (Columba livia) (ROP
Authors
Marcos Isidoro Ayza, C.L. Afonso, J.B. Stanton, Susan Knowles, Hon S. Ip, C. LeAnn White, Heather Fenton, M.G. Ruder, A. C. Dolinski, Julia S. Lankton
Lambdapapillomavirus 2 in a gray wolf (Canis lupus) from Minnesota with oral papillomatosis and sarcoptic mange
Oral papillomatosis was diagnosed in a gray wolf (Canis lupus) with sarcoptic mange from Minnesota, USA found dead in February 2015. Intranuclear inclusion bodies were evident histologically, and papillomaviral antigens were confirmed using immunohistochemistry. Sequencing of the L1 papillomavirus gene showed closest similarity to Lambdapapillomavirus 2.
Authors
Susan Knowles, Steve K. Windels, Marie Adams, Jeffrey S. Hall
Snake fungal disease: An emerging threat to wild snakes
Since 2006, there has been a marked increase in the number of reports of severe and often fatal fungal skin infections in wild snakes in the eastern USA. The emerging condition, referred to as snake fungal disease (SFD), was initially documented in rattlesnakes, where the infections were believed to pose a risk to the viability of affected populations. The disease is caused byOphidiomyces ophiodii
Authors
Jeffrey M. Lorch, Susan Knowles, Julia S. Lankton, Kathy Michell, Jaime L. Edwards, Joshua M. Kapfer, Richard A. Staffen, Erik R. Wild, Katie Z. Schmidt, Anne Ballmann, Doug Blodgett, Terence M. Farrell, Brad M. Glorioso, Lisa A. Last, Steven J. Price, Krysten L. Schuler, Christopher Smith, James F. X. Wellehan, David S. Blehert
First detection of bat white-nose syndrome in western North America
White-nose syndrome (WNS) is an emerging fungal disease of bats caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans. Since it was first detected near Albany, NY, in 2006, the fungus has spread across eastern North America, killing unprecedented numbers of hibernating bats. The devastating impacts of WNS on Nearctic bat species are attributed to the likely introduction of P. destructans from Eurasia to naive ho
Authors
Jeffrey M. Lorch, Jonathan M. Palmer, Daniel L. Lindner, Anne Ballmann, Kyle George, Kathryn M. Griffin, Susan Knowles, John R. Huckabee, Katherine H. Haman, Christopher D. Anderson, Penny A. Becker, Joseph B. Buchanan, Jeffrey T. Foster, David S. Blehert
Non-USGS Publications**
Salter CE, O’Donnell K, Sutton DA, Marancik DP, Knowles S, Clauss TM, Berliner AL, Camus AC: Dermatitis and systemic mycosis in a group of lined seahorses Hippocampus erectus associated with a marine-adapted pathogen within the Fusarium solani species complex. Dis Aquat Org 101(1):23-31, 2012.
Page-Karjian A, Knowles S, Howerth E, Berliner A, Clauss T, Hyatt M, Camus A: Pathology in practice. J Am Vet Med Assoc 241(9):1159-1161, 2012.
Knowles S, Blas-Machado U, Butler AM, Gomez-Ibañez SE, Lowder MQ, Fayrer-Hosken RA: Ameloblastic fibro-odontoma associated with a retained molar in an Oldenburg mare. J Vet Diagn Invest 22:987-990, 2010.
Knowles S, Uhl EW, Blas-Machado U, Butler AM: Intrapericardial ectopic thyroid carcinoma in a cat. J Vet Diagn Invest 22:1010-1013, 2010.
Brown YK, Knowles S, Fiorello CV, Camus MS, Howerth EW: Pathology in practice. Morphologic diagnosis: Uterine adenocarcinoma with metastasis to the lungs, diaphragm, spleen, mesentery, and cecum. J Am Vet Med Assoc 237:1257-1259, 2010.
Knowles S, Hrubec TC, Smith SA, Bakal RS: Hematology and plasma chemistry reference intervals for cultured shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum). Vet Clin Pathol 35:434-440, 2006.
Blanchard TW, Santiago NT, Lipscomb TP, Garber RL, McFee WE, Knowles S: Two novel alphaherpesviruses associated with fatal disseminated infections in Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. J Wild Dis 37:297-305, 2001.
Evans JJ, Norden A, Cresswell F, Insley K, and Knowles S: Marine sea turtle strandings in Maryland, 1991 to 1995. The Maryland Naturalist 41:23-34, 1997.
**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.
Filter Total Items: 14
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government