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Brenda M. Berlowski-Zier

Publications and source records attributed to Brenda M. Berlowski-Zier.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS2025

Nocardia cyriacigeorgica in a Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) from Arizona, USA

Nocardia spp. are opportunistic pathogens of humans, domestic animals, and wildlife that can cause high levels of morbidity and mortality. Here, we present a unique case of nocardial airsacculitis in a free-ranging mallard ( Anas platyrhynchos ) from Arizona, USA, and compare it to the hosts, geographic distribution, diagnostic methodology, and infection site of known nocardiosis cases in birds. A gross necropsy, histopathology, and bacterial culture were performed. There were no gross findings associated with the nocardiosis. Histopathology showed multiple granulomas expanding the air sac with intralesional filamentous bacteria that were Grocott’s methenamine silver-positive, Fite–Faraco and Ziehl–Neelsen acid-fast, positive with the Periodic acid–Schiff reaction, and variably Gram-positive. The organism was isolated in culture and identified as Nocardia cyriacigeorgica based on the sequencing of a 463 bp portion of the 16S rRNA gene. While reports of nocardiosis in the class Aves are rare and some are possibly misdiagnosed due to limited diagnostics, cases are reported globally, sometimes resulting in epizootics. More information is needed to understand whether immunosuppression plays a role in disease development in birds. Known to be an emerging pathogen in humans, N. cyriacigeorgica can be considered as a differential diagnosis for pulmonary and potentially cutaneous or disseminated infections in birds.

Arizona↗
USGS2025

Mortality events in Yuma myotis (Myotis yumanensis) due to white-nose syndrome in Washington, USA

The impacts of white-nose syndrome (WNS) on many bat species in eastern North America have been well documented because of the length of time that the causative agent, Pseudogymnoascus destructans ( Pd ), has been present and the ability to monitor bat hibernacula in that region. However, the disease outcomes for bat species in western North America are less known because of the more recent arrival of Pd and the challenges associated with monitoring hibernating bat populations in parts of the western US. We report on mortality events involving Yuma myotis ( Myotis yumanensis ) bats at two locations in King and Benton counties, Washington, US, that were attributed to WNS during the late winters of 2020–21 and 2024, respectively. All bats that were grossly examined had depleted subcutaneous white adipose tissue, tested positive for the presence of Pd , had histopathologic lesions consistent with WNS, and did not exhibit evidence of other disease processes that may have contributed to death. Mortality was likely higher than what was documented because the locations of the Pd -contaminated hibernacula from which the bats originated were inaccessible or unknown and thus could not be surveyed. These findings indicate that Yuma myotis may be highly susceptible to WNS, and close monitoring is warranted to understand how WNS will affect population trends in this (and other) western bat species.

Washington↗
USGS2022

Avian-associated Aspergillus fumigatus displays broad phylogenetic distribution, no evidence for host specificity, and multiple genotypes within epizootic events

Birds are highly susceptible to aspergillosis, which can manifest as a primary infection in both domestic and wild birds. Aspergillosis in wild birds causes mortalities ranging in scale from single animals to large-scale epizootic events. However, pathogenicity factors associated with aspergillosis in wild birds have not been examined. Specifically, it is unknown whether wild bird-infecting strains are host-adapted (i.e. phylogenetically related). Similarly, it is unknown whether epizootics are driven by contact with clonal strains that possess unique pathogenic or virulence properties, or by distinct and equally pathogenic strains. Here, we use a diverse collection of Aspergillus fumigatus isolates taken from aspergillosis-associated avian carcasses, representing 24 bird species from a wide geographic range, and representing individual bird mortalities as well as epizootic events. These isolates were sequenced and analyzed along with 130 phylogenetically diverse human clinical isolates to investigate the genetic diversity and phylogenetic placement of avian-associated A. fumigatus , the geographic and host distribution of avian isolates, evidence for clonal outbreaks among wild birds, and the frequency of azole resistance in avian isolates. We found that avian isolates were phylogenetically diverse, with no clear distinction from human clinical isolates, and no sign of host or geographic specificity. Avian isolates from the same epizootic events were diverse and phylogenetically distant, suggesting that avian aspergillosis is not contagious among wild birds and that outbreaks are likely driven by environmental spore loads or host comorbidities. Finally, all avian isolates were susceptible to Voriconazole and none contained the canonical azole resistance gene variants.

G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics↗
USGS2022

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium from wild birds in the United States represent distinct lineages defined by bird type

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium is typically considered a host generalist; however, certain isolates are associated with specific hosts and show genetic features of host adaptation. Here, we sequenced 131 S. Typhimurium isolates from wild birds collected in 30 U.S. states during 1978-2019. We found that isolates from broad taxonomic host groups including passerine birds, water birds (Aequornithes), and larids (gulls and terns) represented three distinct lineages and certain S. Typhimurium CRISPR types presented in individual lineages. We also showed that lineages formed by wild bird isolates differed from most isolates originating from domestic animal sources, and genomes from these lineages substantially improved source attribution of Typhimurium genomes to wild birds by a machine learning classifier. Furthermore, virulence gene signatures that differentiated S. Typhimurium from passerines, water birds, and larids were detected. Passerine isolates tended to lack S. Typhimurium-specific virulence plasmids. Isolates from the passerine, water bird, and larid lineages had close genetic relatedness with human clinical isolates, including those from a 2021 U.S. outbreak linked to passerine birds. These observations indicate that S. Typhimurium from wild birds in the United States are likely host-adapted, and the representative genomic dataset examined in this study can improve source prediction and facilitate outbreak investigation.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology↗
USGS2021

Low occurrence of multi-antimicrobial and heavy metal resistance in Salmonella enterica from wild birds in the United States

Wild birds are common reservoirs of Salmonella enterica . Wild birds carrying resistant S . enterica may pose a risk to public health as they can spread the resistant bacteria across large spatial scales within a short time. Here, we whole-genome sequenced 375 S . enterica strains from wild birds collected in 41 U.S. states during 1978–2019 to examine bacterial resistance to antibiotics and heavy metals. We found that Typhimurium was the dominant S . enterica serovar, accounting for 68.3% (256/375) of the bird isolates. Furthermore, the proportions of the isolates identified as multi-antimicrobial resistant (multi-AMR: resistant to at least three antimicrobial classes) or multi-heavy metal resistant (multi-HMR: resistant to at least three heavy metals) were both 1.87% (7/375). Interestingly, all the multi-resistant S . enterica ( n = 12) were isolated from water birds or raptors; none of them was isolated from songbirds. Plasmid profiling demonstrated that 75% (9/12) of the multi-resistant strains carried resistance plasmids. Our study indicates that wild birds do not serve as important reservoirs of multi-resistant S . enterica strains. Nonetheless, continuous surveillance for bacterial resistance in wild birds is necessary because the multi-resistant isolates identified in this study also showed close genetic relatedness with those from humans and domestic animals.

Environmental Microbiology↗
USGS2019

A novel host-adapted strain of Salmonella Typhimurium causes disease in olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) in the Pacific.

Salmonella spp. are frequently shed by wildlife including turtles, but S. enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium or lesions associated with Salmonella are rare in turtles. Between 1996 and 2016, we necropsied 127 apparently healthy pelagic olive ridley turtles ( Lepidochelys olivacea ) that died from drowning bycatch in fisheries and 44 live or freshly dead stranded turtles from the west coast of North and Central America and Hawaii. Seven % (9/127) of pelagic and 47% (21/44) of stranded turtles had renal granulomas associated with S. Typhimurium. Stranded animals were 12 times more likely than pelagic animals to have Salmonella -induced nephritis suggesting that Salmonella may have been a contributing cause of stranding. S. Typhimurium was the only Salmonella serovar detected in L. olivacea , and phylogenetic analysis from whole genome sequencing showed that the isolates from L. olivacea formed a single clade distinct from other S. Typhimurium. Molecular clock analysis revealed that this novel clade may have originated as recently as a few decades ago. The phylogenetic lineage leading to this group is enriched for non-synonymous changes within the genomic area of Salmonella pathogenicity island 1 suggesting that these genes are important for host adaptation.

California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington↗
USGS2015

Avian cholera causes marine bird mortality in the Bering Sea of Alaska

The first known avian cholera outbreak among wild birds in Alaska occurred during November 2013. Liver, intestinal, and splenic necrosis consistent with avian cholera was noted, and Pasteurella multocida serotype 1 was isolated from liver and lung or spleen in Crested Auklets ( Aethia cristatella ), Thick-billed Murres ( Uria lomvia ), Common Eider ( Somateria mollissima ), Northern Fulmars ( Fulmarus glacialis ), and Glaucous-winged Gulls ( Larus glaucescens ).

Alaska↗
USGS2014

Acute pasteurellosis in wild big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus)

We report acute fatal pasteurellosis in wild big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) in Wisconsin, USA. Mortality of approximately 100 bats was documented over 4 wk, with no evidence for predatory injuries. Pasteurella multocida serotype 1 was isolated from multiple internal organs from four of five bats examined postmortem.

Wisconsin↗