Michael Kent
Fish Diseases, parasitology, pathogens of zebra fish
Research Interests: Fish Diseases, Parasitology
Office: 532 Nash Hall
Courses taught: MB 480/580 General Microbiology, VM 760 Veterinary Parastiology
Degrees: Ph.D., University of California, M.S., San Diego State University, B.S., Humboldt State University
RESEARCH
Our laboratory studies diseases of importance to wild and cultured fishes. We also study parasites of concern in wild and domestic mammals and birds in Oregon. Current research topics on fish include studies on parasitic and mycobacterial pathogens of fishes. A major focus of Dr. Kent's laboratory is investigating diseases of importance to zebrafish. This fish species has become a very important animal in genetic and embryology research, which has lead to the development of zebrafish colonies and research programs at several universities. This research is supported by NIH and is conducted in collaboration with the NIH Zebrafish International Resource Center, University of Oregon .
Dr. Kent and his colleague Dr. Carl Schreck are studying the pathological and physiological affects of transcontinental air pollution on salmonid fishes in high mountain lakes in U.S. National Parks.
e are also investigating the impacts of parasites on wild coho salmon from coastal watersheds in Oregon, supported by Oregon Department of Fisheries and Wildlife.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Whipps, C.M., Matthews, J.L., Kent, M.L. 2008. Distribution and genetic characterization of Mycobacterium chelonae in laboratory zebrafish (Danio rerio). Dis Aquat. Org. (in press).
Jacobs, J.M., Stine, C.S., Baya, A.M., Kent, M.L. 2008. A review of mycobacteriosis in marine fishes. J. Fish Dis. (in press).
Schwindt, A.R., Fournie, J.W., Landers, D.H., Schreck, C.B., Kent, M.L. 2008. Mercury levels in salmonids from western U.S. National Parks and correlations with age and macrophage aggregates 2008. Environ. Sci. Tech. 42: 165-170.
Ostland, V.E., Watral, V., Whipps, C.M., Austin, F.W., St-Hilaire, S., Westerman, M.E.,Kent, M.L. 2008. Biochemical, molecular, and virulence characteristics of select Mycobacterium marinum isolates in hybrid striped bass (Morone chrysops x Morone saxatilis) and zebrafish (Danio rerio). Dis. Aquat. Org. 79: 107-118.
Harriff, M.J., Bermudez, L.E., Kent, M.L. 2007. Experimental exposure of zebrafish (Danio rerio Hamilton) to Mycobacterium marinum and Mycobacterium peregrinum reveals the gastrointestinal tract as the primary route of infection: A potential model for environmental mycobacterial infection. J. Fish. Dis. 30: 587- 600.
Whipps, C.M. Dougan, S.T., Kent, M.L. 2007. Mycobacterium haemophilum infections of zebrafish (Danio rerio) in research facilities. FEMS Microbiol Lett. 270: 21-26.
Kent, M.L., J.W. Fournie. 2007. Parasites of Fishes. In: D.G. Baker (eds). Flynn's Parasites of Laboratory Animals. Blackwell Publ. pp. 69-117.
Watral, V., Kent, M.L. 2007. Pathogenesis of Mycobacterium spp. in zebrafish (Danio rerio) from research facilities. Comp. Biochem. Physiol -Part C (Toxicol. Pharmacol.). 145:55-60.
Whipps, C.M., Kent, M.L. 2006. Phylogeography of the cosmopolitan marine parasite Kudoa thyrsites (Myxozoa: Myxosporea). J. Eurky. Microbiol. 53: 364-373.
Kent, M.L., V. Watral, M. Wu , L. Bermudez. 2006. In vivo and in vitro growth of cobacterium marinum at homoeothermic temperatures. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 257: 69-75.
Ramsay, J.M., Feist, G.W. Varga, Z.M., Westerfield, M., Kent, M.L., Schreck, C.B. 2006. Whole-body cortisol is an indicator of crowding stress in adult zebrafish, Danio rerio Aquaculture 258: 565-574.
Poort, M.J., Whipps, C.M., Watral, V.G. Font, W.F., and Kent, M.L. 2006. Description of a Mycobacterium species in non-native poeciliids in Hawaii using DNA sequences. Journal of Fish Diseases 29:1-5.
Whipps C.M., Kent, M.L. 2005. Polymerase chain reaction detection of Pseudoloma neurophilia, a common microsporidian of zebrafish (Danio rerio) reared in research laboratories. Contemp. Top. Lab. Anim. Sci 45:11-16.
Gozlan, R.E. St-Hilaire, S., Feist, S.W., Martin, P., Kent, M.L. 2005. Disease threat to European fish. Nature 435: 1046 (23 June 2005)
Kent, M.L., D.J. Speare. 2005. Review of the sequential development of Loma salmonae (Microsporidia) based on experimental infections of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha). Folia Parasitol. 52: 63-68.
Kent, M.L., V. Watral., C.M. Whipps, M.E. Cunningham, C.D. Criscione, J. R. Heidel, D. L. Curtis, J. Spitsbergen, D. Markle. 2004. A digenean metacercaria (Apophallus sp.) and a myxozoan (Myxobolus sp.) associated with vertebral deformities in cyprinid fishes from the Willamette River, Oregon. J. Aquat. Animal Health 16:116-129.
Kent, M.L., J.L. Matthews, J. K. Bishop-Stewart, C. M. Whipps, V. Watral, M. Poort, L. Bermudez. 2004. Mycobacteriosis in zebrafish (Danio rerio) research facilities.
Comp. Biochem. Physiol -Part C (Toxicol. Pharmacol.). 138: 383-390 Spitsbergen, J.M., Kent, M.L. 2002. The state of the art of the zebrafish model for toxicology and toxicologic pathology research - advantages and current limitions Toxicol. Pathol. 31 (suppl.): 62-87.