Combrink WildOmics Lab Wildlife Disease and Conservation

Publications

2025

Does schistosome infection affect behavior through the gut-brain axis
Does schistosome infection affect behavior through the gut-brain axis?
Leigh Combrink, Johannie M. Spaan, Alexis Perret, Thomas Maehara, Britney Hyun, Dana Parker, Jennifer L. Johns, Michael S. Blouin, Kathy Magnusson, Michelle L. Steinauer
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases  ·  12 Jun 2025  ·  doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0013088
Urbanisation and Host Relatedness Shape Virome Composition in a Widespread, Generalist Carnivore
Urbanisation and Host Relatedness Shape Virome Composition in a Widespread, Generalist Carnivore
Natalie Payne, Desiree Andersen, Cheryl Mollohan, Koenraad Van Doorslaer, Leigh Combrink, Melanie Culver
Molecular Ecology  ·  23 Feb 2025  ·  doi:10.1111/mec.17681

2024

The Alligator and the Mosquito: North American Crocodilians as Amplifiers of West Nile Virus in Changing Climates
The Alligator and the Mosquito: North American Crocodilians as Amplifiers of West Nile Virus in Changing Climates
Desiree Kirsten Andersen, Gracie Ann Fischer, Leigh Combrink
Microorganisms  ·  14 Sep 2024  ·  doi:10.3390/microorganisms12091898
MICROBIOME: Microbiomes in birds: a review of links to health and reproduction
MICROBIOME: Microbiomes in birds: a review of links to health and reproduction
Mary Ann Ottinger, Shailaja Mani, Sonja Krüger, Brent Coverdale, Sandi Willows-Munro, Leigh Combrink
Reproduction and Fertility  ·  01 Jul 2024  ·  doi:10.1530/raf-23-0076

2023

DNA virome composition of two sympatric wild felids, bobcat Lynx rufus and puma Puma concolor in Sonora, Mexico
DNA virome composition of two sympatric wild felids, bobcat (Lynx rufus) and puma (Puma concolor) in Sonora, Mexico
Natalie Payne, Leigh Combrink, Simona Kraberger, Rafaela S. Fontenele, Kara Schmidlin, Ivonne Cassaigne, Melanie Culver, Arvind Varsani, Koenraad Van Doorslaer
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution  ·  09 Mar 2023  ·  doi:10.3389/fevo.2023.1126149
Best practice for wildlife gut microbiome research: A comprehensive review of methodology for 16S rRNA gene investigations
Best practice for wildlife gut microbiome research: A comprehensive review of methodology for 16S rRNA gene investigations
Leigh Combrink, Ian R. Humphreys, Quinn Washburn, Holly K. Arnold, Keaton Stagaman, Kristin D. Kasschau, Anna E. Jolles, Brianna R. Beechler, Thomas J. Sharpton
Frontiers in Microbiology  ·  22 Feb 2023  ·  doi:10.3389/fmicb.2023.1092216

2021

Erratum to Harnessing the gut microbiome in the fight against anthelminthic drug resistance Curr. Opin. Microbiol. 53 February 2020 26 34
Erratum to “Harnessing the gut microbiome in the fight against anthelminthic drug resistance” [Curr. Opin. Microbiol. 53 (February) (2020) 26–34]
Thomas J Sharpton, Leigh Combrink, Holly K Arnold, Christopher A Gaulke, Michael Kent
Current Opinion in Microbiology  ·  01 Aug 2021  ·  doi:10.1016/j.mib.2021.01.003

2020

Habitat preferences of Southern Ground-hornbills in the Kruger National Park: implications for future conservation measures
Habitat preferences of Southern Ground-hornbills in the Kruger National Park: implications for future conservation measures
Leigh Combrink, Hendrik J. Combrink, André J. Botha, Colleen T. Downs
Scientific Reports  ·  01 Oct 2020  ·  doi:10.1038/s41598-020-73236-4
Harnessing the gut microbiome in the fight against anthelminthic drug resistance
Harnessing the gut microbiome in the fight against anthelminthic drug resistance
Thomas J Sharpton, Leigh Combrink, Holly K Arnold, Christopher A Gaulke, Michael Kent
Current Opinion in Microbiology  ·  01 Feb 2020  ·  doi:10.1016/j.mib.2020.01.017
Age of first infection across a range of parasite taxa in a wild mammalian population
Age of first infection across a range of parasite taxa in a wild mammalian population
Leigh Combrink, Caroline K. Glidden, Bree R. Beechler, Bryan Charleston, Anson V. Koehler, Danielle Sisson, Robin B. Gasser, Abdul Jabbar, Anna E. Jolles
Biology Letters  ·  01 Feb 2020  ·  doi:10.1098/rsbl.2019.0811

2017

Habitat structure and diversity influence the nesting success of an endangered large cavity-nesting bird, the Southern Ground-hornbill
Habitat structure and diversity influence the nesting success of an endangered large cavity-nesting bird, the Southern Ground-hornbill
Leigh Combrink, Hendrik J. Combrink, André J. Botha, Colleen T. Downs
Koedoe  ·  17 Nov 2017  ·  doi:10.4102/koedoe.v59i1.1438
Nest temperature fluctuations in a cavity nester, the southern ground-hornbill
Nest temperature fluctuations in a cavity nester, the southern ground-hornbill
L. Combrink, H.J. Combrink, A.J. Botha, C.T. Downs
Journal of Thermal Biology  ·  01 May 2017  ·  doi:10.1016/j.jtherbio.2017.03.003
Re establishing the pecking order: Niche models reliably predict suitable habitats for the reintroduction of red billed oxpeckers
Re‐establishing the pecking order: Niche models reliably predict suitable habitats for the reintroduction of red‐billed oxpeckers
Riddhika Kalle, Leigh Combrink, Tharmalingam Ramesh, Colleen T. Downs
Ecology and Evolution  ·  23 Feb 2017  ·  doi:10.1002/ece3.2787

2015

Current conservation status of the Blue Swallow i Hirundo atrocaerulea i Sundevall 1850 in Africa
Current conservation status of the Blue SwallowHirundo atrocaeruleaSundevall 1850 in Africa
Steven W Evans, Ara Monadjem, Lizanne Roxburgh, Andrew E McKechnie, Ellizabeth M Baker, …, Ronald K Mulwa, Daniel Mwizabi, Dianah Nalwanga, Kariuki Ndang’ang’a, Leigh Combrink
Ostrich  ·  30 Jul 2015  ·  doi:10.2989/00306525.2015.1047808
Feeding preferences of Oxpeckers in Kruger National Park, South Africa
Feeding preferences of Oxpeckers in Kruger National Park, South Africa
Mduduzi Ndlovu, Leigh Combrink
Koedoe  ·  25 Mar 2015  ·  doi:10.4102/koedoe.v57i1.1316

2013

Population estimates of three vulture species in Kruger National Park, South Africa
Population estimates of three vulture species in Kruger National Park, South Africa
Campbell Murn, Leigh Combrink, G Scott Ronaldson, Charles Thompson, André Botha
Ostrich  ·  25 Jan 2013  ·  doi:10.2989/00306525.2012.757253