B1055: Fins, scales, and shells: One Health from an aquatic veterinary epidemiological perspective

More about this event

Presentation Synopsis:

Examples of One Health applications, which unify public health investigators, veterinarians, epidemiologists, ecologists, and other environmental scientists, will be presented within the context of aquatic ecosystem diseases, as well as exploring the use of animal sentinels as an indicator of aquatic ecosystem health decline. A brief background on some of the tools used in One Health epidemiological studies will be presented. Specific disease examples will include the a globally important infectious organism, Leptospira, in California sea lions, parasitic diseases in fish, and others. These studies showcase the potency and applicability of veterinary/wildlife epidemiology as an integrative One Health tool to support the health of aquatic ecosystems.

Presentation Learning Objectives:

1. Review concept of One Health and how it relates to aquatic ecosystem health.
2. Basic epidemiological tools to investigate One Health.
3. Specific aquatic disease examples using epidemiology in One Health context.

Speaker Bio:

Stephanie Norman is a wildlife veterinarian and epidemiologist in the aquatic animal health field, spanning invertebrates to top-level predators. She earned her veterinary degree from Texas A&M University, her MS in epidemiology at the University of Washington, and a PhD in wildlife epidemiology at UC Davis. Her clinical and field research interests include understanding and interpreting various aspects of ocean health, including pathogen transmission, as well as those of concern to human health. She quantifies inherent differences in species susceptibility to diseases, as well as the effects of natural and anthropogenic stressors on disease outcome. Her research and clinical efforts help inform efforts to mitigate human impact on aquatic species and raise awareness of ocean health and the connection to that of humans.