Paul R. Bowser - Cornell Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Bowser is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and has been associated with the department since 1995 (previously an associate professor in the Department of Avian and Aquatic Animal Medicine, 1985-1995). He also served as an aquatic animal health specialist on the faculty of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University (1980-85) and with the Aquaculture Program of the University of California, Davis (1978-80). He received the MS degree from Iowa State University in 1972. He then received his PhD from Auburn University in 1978. He has obtained continuous funding (USDA, NY Sea Grant, etc.) throughtout his career to study diseases of fishes and strategies for fish health management.

Dr. Bowser was the recipient of the State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Faculty Service in 2007. In 2009 Dr. Bowser received the S. F. Snieszko Distinguished Service Award from the Fish Health Section of the American Fisheries Society, which is a career achievement award for his contributions and service to the field of aquatic animal medicine. Dr.Bowser received the National Sea Grant Program Research to Application Award in October, 2010, for the successful and continued real-world application of a Sea Grant-funded research effort.

Research Interests | Graduate Fields | Lab Members | Related Links | Selected References

Research Interests

General interests include infectious and non-infectious diseases of fishes and strategies for fish health management. Our recent major research efforts have been in the following areas:

Retroviral-Caused Tumors in Fish. In a collaborative effort with the laboratory of Dr. James Casey, we have studied the pathogenesis of walleye dermal sarcoma retrovirus, two viruses associated with walleye discrete epidermal hyperplasia, and the Atlantic salmon swim bladder sarcoma virus. Within these efforts, we have been trying to understand the mechanisms by which these tumors and tumor viruses show a seasonality in their pathogenesis.

Therapeutants for Cultured Food Fishes. The commercial aquaculture industry suffers from very limited access to FDA-approved therapeutants for controlling diseases in the production environment. Our laboratory is part of the NRSP7 – Minor Use Animal Drug Program. This program is a joint USDA/FDA/University/Industry effort to address the critical needs for safe and effective compounds for health management in minor species food and fiber animals. Much of our recent efforts have been in comparative pharmacokinetic studies in different species of fish of candidate antibacterials with promise for use in aquaculture. Our ultimate goal is to develop data that will support a species grouping concept for aquaculture species.

Diagnostic Investigations. Our laboratory operates the Fish Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, a service laboratory providing disease diagnostic assistance to the aquaculture community, research community and fish hobbyist in New York State. We also assist the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in investigations of fish kills in wild fish populations in the state. Many times these diagnostic investigations lead to more in-depth research investigations in fish health issues. Our diagnostic efforts have led to an major effort to understand the implications of the emergence of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus Genotype IVb (VHSV IVb) in a variety of fish in the Great Lakes Basin. This effort has been undertaken in collaboration with the Laboratory of Dr. James Casey as well as a number of collaborators including the USDA APHIS, the USGS Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Department of Natural Resources in the College of Agriculture and Life Scineces at Cornell.

Walleye (Sander vitreus) with walleye dermal sarcoma

Grass carp (Ctenophayngodon idella) with spinal deformity

Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fluvescens) diagnostic case submission from the Niagara River

Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fluvescens) diagnostic case submission from the Niagara River

Dr. Bowser is a member of the following Graduate Fields:

Hope, K.M., R.N. Casey, G.H. Groocock, R.G. Getchell, P.R. Bowser and J.W. Casey. (2010). Comparison of quantitative RT-PCR with cell culture to detect viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus IVb (VHSV IVb) infections in the Great Lakes. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health. 22:50-61.

Bain, M.B., E.R. Cornwell, K.M. Hope, G.E. Eckerlin, R.N. Casey, G.H. Groocock, R.G. Getchell, P.R. Bowser, J.R. Winton, W.N. Batts, A. Cangelosi, and J.W. Casey. (2010). Distribution of an Invasive Aquatic Pathogen (Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus) in the Great Lakes and Its Relationship to Shipping. PLoS ONE. 5(4): e10156. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0010156.

Cornwell, E. R., G H. Groocock, R.G. Getchell, and P.R. Bowser. (2011). Residual tannic acid destroys virucidal properties of iodophore. North American Journal of Aquaculture. 73:8-12.

Al-Hussinee, L., J.S. Lumsden, S. Lord, R.M.W. Stevenson, R.N. Casey, G.H. Groocock, K.L. Britt, K.H. Kohler, G.A. Wooster, R.G. Getchell, and P.R. Bowser. (2011). Immunohistochemistry and pathology of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus, type IVb associated with mortality in multiple Great Lakes fish. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms. 93:117-127.

Frattini, S.A., G.H. Groocock, R.G. Getchell, G.A. Wooster, R.N. Casey, J.W. Casey, and P.R. Bowser. (2011). Preliminary Survey of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus (VHSV) in New York State Priority Bodies of Water. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 37:194-198.

Grimmett, S.Gl, H.J. Chalmers, J.C. Wolf, and P.R. Bowser. (2011). Spinal deformity in triploid grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes). Journal of Fish Diseases. 34:217-225.