Picture of Tasha Epp

Tasha Epp Professor, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences

Research Area(s)

  • Epidemiology of zoonotic diseases

Academic Credentials

  • DVM, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 2000
  • PhD, Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 2007

Her PhD work, which focused on the epidemiology of West Nile virus in Saskatchewan horses, has evolved to a focus on more of the human aspects of WNv in Saskatchewan.

Research Interests

Dr. Epp's current research interests include continued work on modeling West Nile virus in the Canadian Prairies and the epidemiology of zoonotic diseases of companion animals, particularly as it regards northern rural, remote or First Nations communities. She is involved in a research group that focuses on water research as it pertains to First Nations communities in Saskatchewan. She also has a continued interest in the application of spatial epidemiology techniques in a variety of animal disease situations. 

In addition, Dr. Epp has been involved in an extensive scoping review that assessed evidence for risks for dog bites, health-related impacts of dog bites and dog bite prevention or dog population management effects on occurrence of dog bites. As part of the project, the team has developed the Community Dog Workbook, based on years of experience and discussions with many communities struggling with dog populations or dog-related issues.

For more information, click on the green button to visit Dr. Epp's research website that focuses on "dog population management in the community."

 

Publications

  • Greenwood, S., Chow-Lockerbie, B., Epp, T., Knight, C., Wachoski-Dark, G., MacDonald-Dickinson, V., Wobeser, B.  2020.  Prevalence and prognostic impact of Equus caballus Papillomavirus Type 2 Infection in equine squamous cell carcinomas in Western Canadian horses.  Veterinary Pathology, 57(5): 623-631.  https://www.doi.org/10.1177/0300985820941266

  • Lopez-Rodriguez, M.F., Cymbaluk, N., Epp, T., Laarveld, B., Serrano Recalde, E.C., Simko, E., Card, C.  2020.  Effects of the glucosinolate sinigrin in combination with a noniodine supplemented diet on serum iodine and thyroid hormone concentrations in nonpregnant mares.  Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 91: 103110.  https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103110

  • Lopez-Rodriguez, M.F., Cymbaluk, N.F., Epp, T., Laarveld, B., Thrasher, M., Card, C.E.  2020.  A field study of serum, colostrum, milk iodine, and thyroid hormone concentrations in postpartum draft mares and foals.  Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 90: 103018.  https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103018

  • Wood, S.C., Chalifour, J.C., Kozii, I.V., de Mattos, I.M., Klein, C.D., Zabrodski, M.W., Moshynskyy, I., Guarna, M.M., Veiga, P.W., Epp, T., Simko, E.  2020.  In vitro effects of pesticides on European foulbrood in honeybee larvae.  Insects, 11(4): 252.  https://www.doi.org/10.3390/insects11040252

  • Wood, S.C., de Mattos, I.M., Kozii, I.V., Klein, C.D., Dvylyuk, I., Folkes, C.D.A., de Carvalho Macedo Silva, R., Moshynskyy, I., Epp, T., Simko, E.  2020.  Effects of chronic dietary thiamethoxam and prothioconazole exposure on Apis mellifera worker adults and brood.  Pest Management Science, 76(1): 85-94.  https://www.doi.org/10.1002/ps.5501

  • Wood, S.C., Kozii, I.V., de Mattos, I.M., Silva, R.C.M., Klein, C.D., Dvylyuk, I., Moshynskyy, I., Epp, T., Simko, E.  2020.  Chronic high-dose neonicotinoid exposure decreases overwinter survival of Apis mellifera L.  Insects, 11(1): 30.  https://www.doi.org/10.3390/insects11010030

  • Zabrodski, M.W., Wilson, G., Moshynskyy, I., Wentzell, A., Wood, S.C., Klein, C.D., Kozii, I.V., De Mattos, I.M., Epp, T., Simko, E.  2020.  Investigation of clinical outbreaks of American foulbrood in honey-bee operations in Saskatchewan.  Canadian Veterinary Journal, 61(10): 1055-1059. 

  • Barrett, M.J., Alphonsus, K.B., Harmin, M., Epp, T., Hoessler, C., McIntyre, D., Reeder, B., Singh, B.  2019.  Learning for transdisciplinary leadership: Why skilled scholars coming together is not enough.  BioScience, 69(9): 736-745.  https://www.doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biz072

  • Carlson, C.J., Kracalik, I.T., Ross, N., Alexander, K.A., Hugh-Jones, M.E., Fegan, M., Elkin, B.T., Epp, T., Shury, T.K., Zhang, W., Bagirova, M., Getz, W.M., Blackburn, J.K.  2019.  The global distribution of Bacillus anthracis and associated anthrax risk to humans, livestock and wildlife.  Nature Microbiology, 4(8): 1337-1343.  https://www.doi.org/10.1038/s41564-019-0435-4

  • Dhillon, J., Hoopes, J., Epp, T.  2019.  Scoping decades of dog evidence: a scoping review of dog bite-related sequelae.  Canadian Journal of Public Health, 110(3): 364-375.  https://www.doi.org/10.17269/s41997-018-0145-3

  • Essien, S.K., Epp, T., Waldner, C., Wobeser, W., Hoeppner, V.  2019.  Tuberculosis in Canada and the United States: a review of trends from 1953 to 2015.  Canadian Journal of Public Health, 110(6): 697-704.  https://www.doi.org/10.17269/s41997-019-00236-x

  • Lohmann, K.L., James, C.R., Higgins, S.N., Howden, K.J., Epp, T.  2019.  Disease investigations for equine infectious anemia in Canada (2009-2012)-retrospective evaluation and risk factor analysis.  Canadian Veterinary Journal, 60(11): 1199-1206.

  • McLeod, L., Bharadwaj, L., Epp, T.Y., Waldner, C.L.  2019.  Bayesian hierarchical models as tools to evaluate the association between groundwater quality and the occurrence of Type 2 diabetes in rural Saskatchewan, Canada.  Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 76(3): 375-393.  https://www.doi.org/10.1007/s00244-018-00588-4

  • Boissonneault, C., Epp, T.  2018.  Reflections on the provision of veterinary services to underserved regions: A case example using northern Manitoba, Canada.  Canadian Veterinary Journal, 59(5): 491-499. 

  • Card, C., Epp, T., Lem, M.  2018.  Exploring the social determinants of animal health.  Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, 45(4): 437-447.  https://www.doi.org/10.3138/jvme.0317-047r

  • Epp, T., Uehlinger, F.D., Wojnarowicz, C., Malhi, P.S., Sayi, S., Woodbury, M.R.  2018.  Observations of mortality in farmed bison in the Canadian prairies: 2103 – 2016.  Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 157: 1-7.  https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2018.05.014

  • Husulak, M.L., Manning, S.T., Meachem, M.D., Burgess, H.J., Epp, T.Y., Montgomery, J.B.  2018.  Does antimicrobial therapy improve outcomes in horses with severe equine asthma and a positive tracheal wash bacterial culture?  Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research, 82(3): 184-191.

  • McLeod, L., Bharadwaj, L., Epp, T.Y., Waldner, C.L.  2018.  Ecological analysis of associations between groundwater quality and hypertension and cardiovascular disease in rural Saskatchewan, Canada using Bayesian hierarchical models and administrative health data.  Environmental Research, 167: 329-340.  https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2018.07.038

  • Wood, S.C., Kozii, I.V., Koziy, R.V., Epp, T., Simko, E.  2018.  Comparative chronic toxicity of three neonicotinoids on New Zealand packaged honey bees.  PLoS ONE, 13(1): e0190517.  https://www.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0190517

  • Higgins, S.N., Howden, K.J., James, C.R., Epp, T., Lohmann, K.L.  2017.  A retrospective study of owner-requested testing as surveillance for equine infectious anemia in Canada (2009-2012).  Canadian Veterinary Journal, 58(12): 1294-1300.

  • McLeod, L., Bharadwaj, L., Epp, T., Waldner, C.L.  2017.  Use of principal components analysis and kriging to predict groundwater-sourced rural drinking water quality in Saskatchewan.  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(9): 1065.  https://www.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14091065

  • New, D., Elkin, B., Armstrong, T., Epp, T.  2017.  Anthrax in the Mackenzie wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) population: 2012 anthrax outbreak and historical exposure in nonoutbreak years.  Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 53(4): 769-780.  https://www.doi.org/10.7589/2016-11-257

  • Epp, T., Waldner, C., Woodbury, M.  2016.  An observational study of mortality on bison farms in Saskatchewan with special emphasis on malignant catarrhal fever.  Canadian Veterinary Journal, 57(1): 37-45.

  • Nallar, R., Papp, Z., Leighton, F.A., Epp, T., Pasick, J., Berhane, Y., Lindsay, R., Soos, C.   2016.  Ecological determinants of avian influenza virus, West Nile virus, and avian paramyxovirus infection and antibody status in Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) in the Canadian prairies.  Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 52(1): 33-46.  https://www.doi.org/10.7589/2013-07-191

  • Scuderi, M.A., Snead, E., Mehain, S., Waldner, C., Epp, T.  2016.  Outcome based on treatment protocol in patients with primary canine immune-mediated thrombocytopenia: 46 cases (2000-2013).  Canadian Veterinary Journal, 57(5): 514-518.

  • Taylor, S., Shmon, C., Su, L., Epp, T., Minor, K., Mickelson, J., Patterson, E., Shelton, G.D.  2016.  Evaluation of dogs with border collie collapse, including response to two standardized strenuous exercise protocols.  Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 52(5): 281-290.  https://www.doi.org/10.5326/JAAHA-MS-6361

  • T. Epp, C. Waldner, C Argue, 2010. Case-control study investigating an anthrax outbreak in Saskatchewan, Canada, Summer 2006. Canadian Veterinary Journal, 51:973-978.

  • T. Epp, C. Argue, C. Waldner, O. Berke, 2010. Spatial Analysis of an Anthrax Outbreak in Saskatchewan, 2006. Canadian Veterinary Journal; 51:743-748.

  • T. Epp, S. Waldner, J. Wright, P. Curry, H.G. Townsend, A. Potter,  2010. Characterizing the Acceptability of a Vaccine for West Nile virus by Public Health Practitioners. Vaccine; 28:3423-3427. DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.02.075.

  • C. Himsworth, BT. Elkin, JS. Nishi, T Epp, KP. Lyashchenko, O Surujballi, C Turcotte, J Esfandiari, R Greenwald, FA, 2010. Leighton. Comparison of test performance and evaluation of novel immunoassays for tuberculosis in a captive herd of wood bison naturally infected with Mycobacterium bovis. Journal of Wildlife Diseases; 46 (1):78-86.

  • T. Epp, C. Waldner, O. Berke, 2009. Predicting geographical human risk of West Nile virus; Saskatchewan, 2003 and 2007. Canadian Journal of Public Health; 100 (5):344-348. 

  • T. Epp, S. Parker, 2009. Factors in foodborne disease control: a brief overview of issues in changing zoonotic disease transmission and the roles of public health and veterinary professionals. Journal of Agromedicine: practice, policy and research, 14:228-234.

  • T. Epp, C. Waldner, R. Corrigan, and P. Curry, 2008. Public Health use of surveillance for WNV in Horses: Saskatchewan, 2003-2005. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases; 55: 411-416. (Published online: August 29, 2008).

  • T. Epp, C. Waldner, K. West and H. Townsend, 2007. Factors associated with West Nile virus disease fatalities in horses. Canadian Veterinary Journal, 48: 1137-1145. 

  • T. Epp, C. Waldner and H.G.G. Townsend, 2007. A case control study of factors associated with development of clinical disease due to West Nile virus, Saskatchewan, 2003. Equine Veterinary Journal, 39(6): 496-503. 

  • T. Epp, C. Waldner, F.A. Leighton, O. Berke, H.G.G. Townsend, 2007. Seroprevalence and risk factors for infection with West Nile virus in Saskatchewan horses, 2003. Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research, 71(4): 256-263.

  • R. Corrigan, C. Waldner, T. Epp, J. Wright, S. Whitehead, H. Bangura, E Young and H. Townsend, 2006. Prediction of human cases of West Nile virus by equine cases, Saskatchewan, Canada, 2003. Preventative Veterinary Medicine, 76: 263-272.

  • R. Mainer-Jaime, P. Litgh-Pereira, T. Epp and C. Waldner, 2005. The application of spatial analysis tools in small-ruminant brucellosis eradication programs in Northern Spain. International Journal of Applied Research in Veterinary Medicine, 3(3): 179-188.