Biology subjects

Brandell, E. E.

Publications and source records attributed to Brandell, E. E..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Persistent, Multi-Species Outbreaks and Long-Range Transmissions of a Measles-Like Virus

Canine distemper--a measles-like disease with high mortality and presently without a cure--poses a major threat to wild and domestic carnivores globally. Domestic dogs are generally considered to be the main reservoir and long-range transmitter of the disease, but the role of wildlife is likely underestimated and the long-term persistence of CDV in wildlife has never been assessed. We sequenced canine distemper virus (CDV) full and partial genomes that were sampled over a decade (2012-2021) from Arctic foxes and other canids in Alaska and Yellowstone, and compiled a dataset of all published CDV genomes sampled across 32 species globally. We show the first ever evidence of persistence of CDV in wildlife (for almost a decade) with explosive transmission dynamics crossing host species barriers. Strains sampled from the Arctic for the first time connect North America to Eurasia, and are distinct from the Yellowstone strain and other known North American lineages. This suggests that separate wildlife outbreaks occur concurrently in North America, with possible introductions from Eurasia. The long-term persistence, long-range movement and explosive spread of this devastating panzootic virus that we document within wildlife is alarming and highlights the need for increased monitoring efforts to better protect wildlife populations globally.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2023

Prions in carnivore feces: recovery from spiking experiments and detection in free-ranging carnivores

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a highly contagious, fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by infectious prions (PrPCWD) affecting wild and captive cervids. Although experimental feeding studies have demonstrated prions in feces of crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos), coyotes (Canis latrans), and cougars (Puma concolor), the role of scavengers and predators in CWD epidemiology remains poorly understood. Here we applied the real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) assay to detect PrPCWD in feces from cervid consumers, to advance surveillance approaches, which could be used to improve disease research and adaptive management of CWD. We assessed recovery and detection of PrPCWD by experimental spiking of PrPCWD into carnivore feces from 9 species sourced from CWD-free populations or captive facilities. We then applied this technique to detect PrPCWD from feces of predators and scavengers in free-ranging populations. Our results demonstrate that spiked PrPCWD is detectable from feces of free-ranging mammalian and avian carnivores using RT-QuIC. Results show that PrPCWD acquired in natural settings is detectable in feces from free-ranging carnivores, and that PrPCWD rates of detection in carnivore feces reflect relative prevalence estimates observed in the corresponding cervid populations. This study adapts an important diagnostic tool for CWD, allowing investigation of the epidemiology of CWD at the community-level.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2020

The rise of disease ecology

Micro- and macroparasites are a leading cause of mortality for humans, animals, and plants, and there is great need to understand their origins, transmission dynamics, and impacts. Disease ecology formed as an interdisciplinary field in the 1970s to fill this need and has recently rapidly grown in size and influence. Because interdisciplinary fields integrate diverse scientific expertise and training experiences, understanding their composition and research priorities is often difficult. Here, for the first time, we quantify the composition and educational experiences of a subset of disease ecology practitioners and identify topical trends in published research. We combined a large survey of self-declared disease ecologists with a literature synthesis involving machine-learning topic detection of over 18,500 disease ecology research articles. The number of graduate degrees earned by disease ecology practitioners has grown dramatically since the early 2000s. Similar to other science fields, we show that practitioners in disease ecology have diversified in the last decade in terms of gender identity and institution, with weaker diversification in race and ethnicity. Topic detection analysis revealed how the frequency of publications on certain topics have declined (e.g., HIV, serology), increased (e.g., the dilution effect, infectious disease in bats), remained relatively common (e.g., malaria ecology, influenza, vaccine research and development), or have consistently remained relatively infrequent (e.g., theoretical models, field experiments). Other topics, such as climate change, superspreading, emerging infectious diseases, and network analyses, have recently come to prominence. This study helps identify the major themes of disease ecology and demonstrates how publication frequency corresponds to emergent health and environmental threats. More broadly, our approach provides a framework to examine the composition and publication trends of other major research fields that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries.

ecology↗