Wildlife Diseases and Parasites

Because coyotes are widespread, abundant, and frequently captured in predator damage management activities, they represent an excellent sentinel to assess exposure to many wildlife and zoonotic diseases. I have collaborated on several projects with specialists studying epidemiology of pathogens causing Bartonellosis, plague, and Erlichiosis, and have contributed to studies of macroparasite diversity as well.

Wildlife Disease Publications

Padgett, K. A., S. A. Nadler, L. Munson, B. N. Sacks, and W. M. Boyce. 2005. Systematics of Mesocestoides (Cestoda: Mesocestoididae): Evaluation of molecular and morphological variation among isolates. Journal of Parasitology 91:1435-1443.

Foley, J. E., E, V, Queen, B. N. Sacks, P. Foley. 2005. GIS-facilitated spatial epidemiology of tick-borne diseases of coyotes (Canis latrans) in northern and coastal California. Comparative Immunology, Microbiology, & Infectious Diseases 28:197-212.

Beldomenico, P. E., B. B. Chomel, J. E. Foley, B. N. Sacks, C. J. Baldi, R. W. Kasten, I. A. Gardner. 2005. Environmental factors associated with Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii seropositivity in ree-ranging coyotes from northern California. Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases 5:110-119.

Hoar, B. R., B. B. Chomel, D. L. Rolfe, C. C. Chang, C. L. Fritz, B. N. Sacks, and T. E. Carpenter. 2003. Spatial analysis of Yersinia pestis and Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii seroprevalence in California coyotes (Canis latrans). Preventive Veterinary Medicine 56:299-311.