Contact Information

Education

PhD in Infectious Diseases from University of Georgia, 2004

MS in Zoology (Parasitology) from Clemson University, 2000

BS in Biological Sciences (major) and Wildlife Biology (minor) from Clemson University, 1997

Area of Specialization

Wildlife Disease Ecology    

Parasitology

Vector-borne pathogens

Zoonotic pathogens

To learn more, visit the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study website

Prior Positions

Assistant Research Scientist, Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 2004-2006

Courses Taught

Wildlife Disease Ecology and Management

Wildlife Health Monitoring Methodologies

Publications

Peer-reviewed manuscripts

 Dorn, PL, L Perniciaro, MJ Yabsley, DM Roellig, G Balsamo, J Diaz, and D Wesson.  2007.  Autochthonous transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi, Louisiana.  Emerging Infectious Diseases 13:605-7.  http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/13/605.htm

Munderloh, UG, MJ Yabsley, SM Murphy, MP Luttrel, and EW Howerth.  2007.  Isolation and establishment of the raccoon Ehrlichia-like agent in tick cell culture.  Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases 7:418-425.

Hall, CA, C. Polizzi, MJ Yabsley, and TM Norton.  2007.  Trypanosoma cruzi prevalence and epidemiologic thrends in lemurs on St. Catherines Island, Georgia, USA.  Journal of Parasitology 93:93-6.  Pubmed abstract

Yabsley MJ.  2007.  Natural history of Ehrlichia chaffeensis.  Veterinary Parasitology (in press)

Wilcox, BR, MJ Yabsley, AE Ellis, DE Stallknecht, and SEJ Gibbs.  2007.  West Nile virus antibody detection and persistence in American crows (Corvus brachyrhychos) and fish crows (Corvus ossifragus).  Avian Diseases 51:125-8.  Pubmed abstract

Yamasaki, M, H Inokuma, C Sugimoto, SE Shaw, M Aktas, MJ Yabsley, O Yamato, and Y Maede.  2007.  Comparison and phylogenetic analysis of the heat shock protein 70 gene of Babesia parasites from dogs.  Veterinary Parasitology (in press) [Epub Feb 5] http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2007.01.003

Labruna, MB, JW McBride, LMA Camaro, DM Aguiar, MJ Yabsley, WR Davidson, EY Stromdahl, PC Williamson, RW Stich, SW Long, EP Camaro, and DH Walker.  2007.  A preliminary investigation of Ehrlichia species in ticks, humans, dogs, and capybaras from Brazil.  Veterinary Parasitology 143:189-195. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.08.005)

Yabsley, MJ, CN Welch, SM Mitchell, TM Norton, and DS Lindsay.  2007.  Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, Sarcocystis neurona, and Encephalitozoon cuniculi in three species of lemurs from St. Catherines Island, GA, USA.  Veterinary Parasitology 144:29-32.(http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.09.020)

Brown, JD, MK Keel, MJ Yabsley, T Thigpen, and JC Maerz.  2006.  Clinical challenge.  Skin - multifocal histiocytic dermatitis with intralesional trombiculid mites.  Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 37:571-573.

Dugan, VG, MJ Yabsley, CM Tate, DG Mead, UG Munderloh, MJ Herron, DE Stallknecht, SE Little, and WR Davidson.  2006.  Evaluation of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) as natural sentinels for Anaplasma phagocytophilum.  Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases 6:192-207. (http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/vbz.2006.6.192)

Yabsley, MJ, SM Murphy, and MW Cunningham.  2006.  Molecular detection and characterization of Cytauxzoon felis and a Babesia species in cougars (Puma concolor) from Florida.  Journal of Wildlife Diseases 42:366-374. (http://www.jwildlifedis.org/cgi/content/abstract/42/2/366)

Yabsley, Michael J., Janean Romines, and Victor F. Nettles.  2006.  Detection of Babesia and Anaplasma species in rabbits from Texas and Georgia, USA.  Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases  6:7-13.

Gibbs, Samantha E. J., Andrew B. Allison, Michael J. Yabsley, and David E. Stallknecht.  2006. West Nile virus antibodies in avian species of Georgia, USA: 2000-2004.  Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases 6:57-72. (http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/vbz.2006.6.57)

Gibbs, Samantha E. J., Michael C. Wimberly, Marguerite Madden, Janna Masour, Michael J. Yabsley, David E. Stallknecht.  2006. Factors affecting the geographic distribution of West Nile virus in Georgia, USA: 2002-2004.  Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases 6:73-82.(http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/vbz.2006.6.73)

Yabsley, Michael J. and Samantha E.J. Gibbs.  2006.  Description and phylogeny of a new species of Eimeria from double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) near Fort Gaines, Georgia.  Journal of Parasitology 92:385-388.

Yabsley, Michael J., Thierry M. Work, and Robert A. Rameyer.  2006.  Molecular phylogeny of Babesia poelea from brown boobies (Sula leucogaster) from Johnston Atoll, Central Pacific.  Journal of Parasitology 92:423-425.

Yabsley, Michael J., Tracie C. Quick, and Susan E. Little.  2005.  Theileriosis in a white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawn.  Journal of Wildlife Diseases 41:806-809.

Yabsley, Michael J., William R. Davidson, David E. Stallknecht, Andrea S. Varela, Pamela K. Swift, James C. deVos, Jr., and Shelli A. Dubay.  2005.  Evidence of tick-borne organisms in mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) from the western United States.  Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases 5:351-362.

Yabsley, Michael J.  2005.  Emerging tick-borne diseases: Recent advances and the role of wildlife.  In:  The American College of Veterinary Pathologists and The American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology Conference Proceedings.  Pp 33-33.

Yabsley, MJ, MC Wimberly, DE Stallknecht, SE Little, and WR Davidson.  2005. Spatial analysis of the distribution of Ehrlichia chaffeensis, causative agent of human monocytotropic ehrlichiosis, across a multi-state region.  American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 72:840-850.

Varela, AS, DE Stallknecht, MJ Yabsley, VA Moore IV, EW Howerth, WR Davidson, and SE Little.  2005.  Primary and secondary infection with Ehrlichia chaffeensis in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases 5:48-57.

Yabsley, MJ, TM Norton, MR Powell, and WR Davidson. 2004.  Molecular and serologic evidence of multiple tick-borne pathogens in free-ranging lemurs from St. Catherine’s Island, Georgia.  Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 35:503-509.

Yabsley, MJ, C Dresden-Osborne, EE Pirkle, JK Kirven, and GP Noblet.  2004.  Filarial worm infections in shelter dogs and cats from northwestern South Carolina, U.S.A.  Comparative Parasitology 71:154-157.

Flacke, GL, MJ  Yabsley, BA Hanson, and DE Stallknecht.  2004.  Hemorrhagic disease in Kansas: enzootic stability meets epizootic disease.  Journal of Wildlife Diseases 40:288-293.

Yabsley, MJ,  VG Dugan, DE Stallknecht, SE Little, JM Lockhart, JE Dawson, and WR Davidson.  2003.  Evaluation of a prototype Ehrlichia chaffeensis surveillance system using white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) as natural sentinels.  Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases 3:195:207.   

Varela, AS, DE Stallknecht, MJ Yabsley, VA Moore, WR Davidson, and SE Little.  2003.  experimental infection of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) with Ehrlichia chaffeensis by different inoculation routes.  Journal of Wildlife Diseases 39:881-886.

Yabsley, M.J., S.E. Little, E. J. Sims, V.G. Dugan, D.E. Stallknecht, and W.R. Davidson.  2003.  Molecular variation in the variable-length PCR target and 120-kilodalton antigen genes of Ehrlichia chaffeensis from white-tailed deer.  Journal of Clinical Microbiology  41:5202-5206. 

Sumner, J. W., M. J. Yabsley, M. Q. Arens, G. Buenning, G. A. Storch, and W. R. Davidson.  2003.  Determination of white-tailed deer agent groESL operon sequences for pylogenetic and diagnostic applications.  Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 990:699-700.

Moore, V.A., A.S. Varela, M.J. Yabsley, W.R. Davidson, and S.E. Little.  2003.  Detection of Borrelia lonestari, putative causative agent of Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness, in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from the southeastern United States.  Journal of Clinical Microbiology 41:424-427.  

Yabsley, M.J., N.L. Gottdenker, and J.R. Fischer.  2002.  Description of a new Eimeria species and associated lesions in the kidneys of double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus).  Journal of Parasitology 88:989-993.

Yabsley, M.J. and G.P. Noblet.  2002.  Biological and molecular characterization of a raccoon-isolate of Trypanosoma cruzi from South Carolina.  Journal of Parasitology 88:1230-1233. 

James, M. J., M. J. Yabsley, O. J. Pung, and M. J. Grijalva.  2002.  Amplification of Trypanosoma cruzi-specific DNA sequences in formalin-fixed raccoon tissues using polymerase chain reaction.  Journal of Parasitology 88:989-993. 

Yabsley, M. J., A. S. Varela, C. M. Tate, V. G. Dugan, D. E. Stallknecht, S. E. Little, and W. R. Davidson.  2002.  Ehrlichia ewingii infection in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus).  Emerging Infectious Diseases 8:668-671.  

Yabsley, M. J. and G. P. Noblet.  2002.  Seroprevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi in raccoons from South Carolina and Georgia.  Journal of Wildlife Disease 38:75-83.

Yabsley, M. J., G. P. Noblet, and O. J. Pung.  2001.  Comparison of serological methods and blood culture for detection of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in raccoons (Procyon lotor).  Journal of Parasitology 87:1155-1159. 

Noblet, G. P. and M. J. Yabsley.  2000.  The Good and the Bad: Symbiosis in the Animal Kingdom.  In Tested Studies for Laboratory Teaching. Proceedings of the 22nd Workshop/Conference of the Association for Biology Laboratory Education (ABLE) 22: 120-155. 

Yabsley, M. J., G. P. Noblet, and O. J. Pung.  1999.  Use of the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and blood culture to detect Trypanosoma cruzi infections in raccoons from Georgia.  International Virtual Conference on Veterinarian Medicine – Diseases of Exotic Animals and Wildlife, November 15-30, 1999. 

Yabsley, M. J. and G. P. Noblet.  1999.  Nematodes and Acanthocephalans of raccoons (Procyon lotor), with a new geographical record for Centrorhynchus conspectus (Acanthocephala) in South Carolina, U.S.A.  Journal of the Helminthological Society of Washington 66: 111-114. 

Book chapters

Yabsley, MJ and SEJ Gibbs.  2005.  Parasitic and Infectious Diseases of Small Mammals.  in S.K. Majumdar, J. Huffman, F.J. Brenner, and A.I. Panah, editors.  Wildlife Diseases:  Landscape Epidemiology, Spatial Distribution and Utilization of Remote Sensing Technology. Pennsylvania Academy of Sciences pp. 345-373.

Paddock, Christopher D. and Michael J. Yabsley.  2007.  Ecological havoc, the rise of white-tailed deer, and the unveiling of Amblyomma americanum-associated zoonoses in the United States.  In: CTMI vol. on Wildlife and Emerging Zoonotic Diseases: The Biology, Circumstances, and Consequences of Cross-Species Transmission. J. Mackenzie (Editor).  Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology 315:289-324.

Yabsley, Michael J.   2007. Cytauxzoonosis.  In: W.R. Davidson (Ed.)  Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases in the Southeastern United States.  3rd Ed.  Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA pp 197-199.

Yabsley, Michael J.  2007.  Sarcocystis infection.  In: W.R. Davidson (Ed.)  Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases in the Southeastern United States.  3rd Ed.  Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA PP 203-206.

Continuing education articles

Yabsley, Michael J.  2005.  Eastern equine encephalitis in Michigan deer.  SCWDS Briefs 21(3):1-3.

Yabsley, Michael J.  2005.  Wildlife piroplasms. SCWDS Briefs 20(4):5-7.

Yabsley, Michael J.  2004.  Recent cases of hantavirus in West Virginia. SCWDS Briefs 20(3):3-5.

Yabsley, Michael J., Vivien G. Dugan, and William R. Davidson.  2003.  Surveillance for human ehrlichioses agents using white-tailed deer.  SCWDS Briefs 19(3):2-5.

Yabsley, Michael J. and William R. Davidson.  2003.  Characterization of Ehrlichia chaffeensis from deer.  SCWDS Briefs 19(3):5-6.

Yabsley, Michael J.  2003.  Renal coccidiosis agent investigated.  SCWDS Briefs 18(4):8.

Gaydos, Joseph K. and Michael J. Yabsley.  2002. Update on EPM epidemiology.  United States Animal Health Newsletter 29(1):8.

Yabsley, Michael J. 2002.  Raccoon roundworms – Public health update.  SCWDS Briefs 17(4):4-5.

Gaydos, Joseph K. and Michael J. Yabsley.  2001.  New information on equine protozoal encephalitis (EPM).  SCWDS Briefs 17(3):6-7.