Vector-Borne Zoonoses Laboratory

Professor - Department of Environmental Toxicology
Director - Biological Threat Research Laboratory & Bioterrorism Response Laboratory

Box 41163 • Lubbock, Texas  79409-1163  • U.S.A.
Office: 806-834-8260  or  806-885-0236   Fax: 806-885-2132
Email: steve.presley@ttu.edu

 

Research
FOCUS
Areas

Our specific research objective and focus is to better understand the environmental factors, both biotic and abiotic, that influence the occurrence, transmission, maintenance, and persistence of biological threat agents (naturally occurring and intentionally introduced), particularly zoonoses and other infectious pathogens of wildlife. Ultimately identifying potential vulnerabilities in the transmission and maintenance dynamics of the pathogen that can be exploited to limit or control its threat to human and animal health.  This objective is accomplished through the detection and monitoring of the occurrence and incidence of established, emerging, resurgent and introduced pathogens.  And by identifying and understanding relationships among primary hosts, vectors, intermediate hosts, and accidental/incidental hosts, as well as the environmental factors that influence those relationships.

---

Current ACTIVE Research Projects

• Title:   Feral Hog Semi-Annual Serology Surveys in Oklahoma: PRRS,Brucella, Francisella tularensis,Pseudorabies, Chagas Disease
  Investigators:   S.M. Presley (PI)
  Funding Sponsor:   Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
  
  
• Title:   Feral Hog Serology and Tissue Surveys for Chagas Disease on the Oklahoma/Texas Border
  Investigators:   S.M. Presley (PI)
  Funding Sponsor:   Internally Funded
  
  
• Title:  Feral Hog Trans-Placental Study for Neosporosis caninum on the Oklahoma/Texas Border
  Investigators:   S.M. Presley (PI)
  Funding Sponsor:   Internally Funded
  
  
• Title:   West Nile / Arboviral Seasonal Screening in Lubbock, Texas
  Investigators:   S.M. Presley (PI)
  Funding Sponsor:   Internally Funded
  
  
• Title:   Mosquito Insecticide Resistance Testing in 50 Texas Counties
  Investigators:   S.M. Presley (PI)
  Funding Sponsor:   Texas DSHS
  
  
• Title:   Stegomyia (Ae. Albopictus, Ae. Aegypti mosquitos) Surveillance in the Texas Panhandle
  Investigators:   S.M. Presley (PI)
  Funding Sponsor:   Texas DSHS
  

---

Recently Completed Research Projects

• Title:   Vaccine efficacy trials for epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) in white-tailed deer
  Investigators:   S.M. Presley (PI), E. Smith (Co-PI)
  Funding Sponsor:   Deer Breeders Corporation
  
  
• Title:   Quail Disease Screening for Quail Cholera, Newcastle Disease, and West Nile Virus in the West Texas Panhandle
  Investigators:   S.M. Presley (PI)
  Funding Sponsor:   RPQRF
  
  
• Title:   Black Bear Semi-Annual Serology Surveys in Eastern Oklahoma: PRRS, Brucella, Francisella tularensis, Pseudorabies, Chagas Disease
  Investigators:   S.M. Presley (PI)
  Funding Sponsor:   Oklahoma State University
  
  
• Title:   Study of Drug Residue in White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
  Investigators:   E. Smith (PI), G.P. Austin (Co-PI), S.M. Presley (Co-PI)
  Funding Sponsor:   Deer Breeders Corporation
  
  
• Title:   Operation Idiopathic Decline – II: Determining Lifecycle and Transmission Dynamics of Oxyspirura petrowi in Rolling Plains Cockroach (Order: Blattaria) and Orthopteran Species Consumed by Northern Bobwhite Quail
  Investigators:   S.M. Presley (PI)
  Funding Sponsor:   Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation
  
  
• Title:   Operation Idiopathic Decline: Prevalence of Arboviral, Infectious and Zoonotic Pathogens
  Investigators:   S.M. Presley (PI) & R.J. Kendall (Co-PI)
  Funding Sponsor:   Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation
  
  
• Title:   Serologic Survey of Feral Swine in Texas and Oklahoma for Coxiella burnetii, Franciscella tularensis, and Yersinia pestis
  Investigators:   S.M. Presley (PI)
  
  
• Title:   Serologic Survey of Lesser Prairie Chickens for Fowl Cholera and West Nile Virus
  Investigators:   S.M. Presley (PI)
  
  
• Title:   Investigating the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases within Lake Ecosystems: The case of East African Rift Valley Lake Ecosystems and Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) mass-die offs
  Investigators:   S.M. Presley (PI)

---

Additional Laboratory Capabilities

Milk Regulatory Laboratory

• Title:   Milk Regulatory Testing Laboratory
  Investigators:   S.M. Presley (PI)
  Funding Sponsor:   Texas Department of State Health Services
  

BSL-3 Capabilities

• Title:   Bioterrorism Response Lab, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Laboratory Response Network – Public Health Emergency Preparedness / Hospital Preparedness / Influenza Surveillance
  Investigators:   S.M. Presley (PI)
  Funding Sponsor:   Texas Department of State Health Services

Published Books: