DOCSLIB.ORG

Human Dermatitis Caused by the Flying Squirrel's Flea, Ceratophyllus

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

〔Med. Entomol. Zool. Vol. 72 No. 1 p. 33‒34 2021〕 33 reference DOI: 10.7601/mez.72.33 Note Human dermatitis caused by the ying squirrel’s ea, Ceratophyllus indages indages (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) in Hokkaido, Japan Takeo Y*, 1), Hayato K2) and Tatsuo O2) * Corresponding author: [email protected] 1) Laboratory of Entomology, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho Nishi 2‒11, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080‒8555, Japan 2) Laboratory of Wildlife Biology, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho Nishi 2‒11, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080‒8555, Japan (Received: 28 September 2020; Accepted: 31 October 2020) Abstract: is report describes human dermatitis that is caused by the bite of Ceratophyllus (Monopsyllus) indages indages (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) from the Siberian ying squirrel Pteromys volans orii in Hokkaido, Japan. is case represents the rst description of human dermatitis caused by the bite of C. i. indages. Key words: Ceratophyllus indages indages, ectoparasite, human dermatitis, Pteromys volans orii, Siberian ying squirrel, Siphonaptera I C R e patient was a 25-year-old male postgraduate Fleas (Siphonaptera) are small, bloodsucking or student living in Obihiro City, Hokkaido. He had been hematophagous ectoparasites that may transmit studying the ecology of wild Siberian ying squirrels in pathogens (Eisen and Gage, 2012). e cat ea, Obihiro City and had been capturing squirrels in the Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché), is the most common eld one to three times each week since 2019. Before cause of ea-related dermatitis in humans in he touched squirrels, he applied an insect repellent Japan (Ohtaki et al., 1999). Additionally, cases of (SARATECT Water Mist, Earth Corporation) to his humans bitten by bird eas such as Ceratophyllus skin to prevent eas from landing, but he was still (Ceratophyllus) gallinae dilates Dudolkina (Miyamoto, bitten by unidentied eas about once a month. 1993), C. (Ceratophyllus) garei Rothschild (Takahashi On June 16, 2020, the patient worked in the et al., 2000), and C. (Ceratophyllus) farreni chaoi laboratory with a handful of dead squirrels and nesting Smit and Allan (Yamauchi, 2005) have also been materials brought back from the eld. About an hour sporadically reported. However, information on later, he found a bloodsucking ea on his right wrist, human dermatitis caused by eas in wild mammals is so he collected the ea by attaching it to cellophane extremely scarce in Japan. tape. en, he photographed the ea with a digital Ceratophyllus (Monopsyllus) indages indages camera (Tough TG-5, OLYMPUS). Rothschild (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) is widely e dead squirrels were juveniles found soon distributed in the Palaearctic region, and in Japan it a er death in a nest box on the university campus in has been recorded in Hokkaido, Honshu and Shikoku Obihiro City. e capture method was conducted (Nakamura, 2016). Specimens of Ceratophyllus i. according to the guidelines of the Mammal Society indages were collected from the body surfaces and of Japan and approved by the Hokkaido Government nests of the Siberian chipmunk Tamias sibiricus Tokachi General Subprefectural Bureau (No. 608). (Laxmann), the Eurasian red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris e area that was bitten by the ea became swollen orientis omas, and the Siberian ying squirrel and itchy 2‒3 days a er the bite. e skin lesion Pteromys volans orii (Kuroda) in Hokkaido (Ono, from the ea bite was completely healed within three 1958, 1965; Sakaguti, 1962). is report describes months. He did not go to a hospital, and no medical human dermatitis that is caused by the bite of C. i. treatment for the ea bite was performed. indages from P. volans orii in Hokkaido, Japan. I e common and scientic names of host mammals follow Ohdachi et al. (2015). e ea (Fig. 1) was observed under a biological microscope (H550L, NIKON) while still attached to 34 Med. Entomol. Zool. vulgaris orientis, and P. volans orii in Hokkaido (Ono, 1958, 1965). Because hosts of C. i. indages are wild mammals, there is little opportunity for humans to come into contact with this ea via the host animals, and human bites by the ea are unlikely to occur. However, a large number of C. i. indages have been found in host nests that are also built near residential areas (Ono, 1965; Yamauchi et al., unpublished data), so attention should be paid to accidental ea bites through the nests. A We wish to express our gratitude to Associate Professor Glen Hill (Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine) for proofreading the English. is paper was partially supported by the Research Program on Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases from Japan Agency for Medical Research and development (AMED). Fig. 1. Ceratophyllus (Monopsyllus) indages indages that was recovered from the patient. Fresh blood can be seen R throughout the digestive tract. Eisen, R. J. and Gage, K. L. 2012. Transmission of ea-borne zoonotic agents. Annu. Rev. Entomol., 57: 61‒82. Miyamoto, K. 1993. Cases of itchy eruption caused by the sparrow the cellophane tape. e ea was found to be male ea, Ceratophyllus gallinae dilatus (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) because it had the male genitalia. e morphology of in Hokkaido, Japan. Jpn. J. Sanit. Zool., 44: 97‒99. the ea, for example, the xed process of clasper, the Nakamura, T. 2016. Siphonaptera. In: Catalogue of the Insects movable nger, and the apical lobe of 9th sternum, of Japan, vol. 5, Neuropterida, Mecoptera, Siphonaptera, corresponds to those of C. i. indages as described by Trichoptera and Strepsiptera (ed. e Editorial Committee of Catalogue of the Insects of Japan), pp. 49‒61, Touka Shobo, Sakaguti (1962) from Hokkaido, Japan. Fukuoka (In Japanese). e examined ea in the present study is deposited Natsuaki, M. 2013. Dr. Natsuaki’s Clinical Photo Album̶Insects in the Laboratory of Entomology, Obihiro University of and Dermatitis: Dermatitis-Inducing Insects, Clinical Findings, Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan. and erapeutic Strategies. 199 pp. Gakken Medical Shujunsha, Tokyo (In Japanese). D Ohdachi, S. D., Ishibashi, Y., Iwasa, M. A., Fukui, D. and Saitoh, T. 2015. e Wild Mammals of Japan, Second edition. 506 pp., ere is a high probability that the patient had been Shoukadoh Book Sellers and e Mammal Society of Japan, bitten several times by C. i. indages during the course Kyoto (In Japanese). of his research of the Siberian ying squirrel, which Ohtaki, N., Shinonaga, S., Uchikawa, K. and Ohtaki, T. 1999. Flea would have established sensitization. erefore, it is and ea bite dermatitis. In: Arthropods and Dermatology (ed. presumed that the itching and swelling occurred 2 to Kano, R.), pp. 87‒97, Tokai University Press, Tokyo (in Japanese). 3 days a er the current bloodsucking (Natsuaki, 2013). Ono, Z. 1958. Studies on the eas from Sciuroidea in Hokkaido, Japan. Rep. Hokkaido Inst. Publ. Health, 9: 173‒183 (In Japanese To date, the patient had never been bitten by cat or with English title). canine eas such as C. felis. Ono, Z. 1965. Fleas from the nests of Pteromys volans orii e male of C. i. indages shown in Fig. 1 was (Sciuroidae: Rodentia) in Hokkaido (supplemental notes of collected from the patient’s skin during blood sucking. the studies on Japanese eas, part. 5). Rep. Hokkaido Inst. Publ. Fresh blood was observed in the ea’s digestive tract, Health, 15: 63‒67 (In Japanese with English summary). suggesting that the ea had ingested it from the patient. Sakaguti, K. 1962. A monograph of the Siphonaptera of Japan. 256 pp., 41 pls. e Nippon Printing and Publishing Co., Ltd., Osaka. To the best of our knowledge, human dermatitis that is Takahashi, M., Yajima, T. and Misumi, H. 2000. Cases of human caused by the bite of C. i. indages had not been reported dermatitis possibly caused by the bird ea, Ceratophyllus garei previously. erefore, the present paper is the rst Rothschild, 1902 (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) in Saitama report of human dermatitis by C. i. indages. Prefecture. Med. Entomol. Zool., 51: 39‒43. Ceratophyllus i. indages is widely distributed in the Yamauchi, T. 2005. Human dermatitis caused by the house-martin ea, Ceratophyllus farreni chaoi (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) Palaearctic region (Nakamura, 2016) and is common in Shimane Prefecture, Japan. Med. Entomol. Zool., 56: 49‒52. on the body surfaces and nests of T. sibiricus, S. .
Recommended publications
  • Royal Entomological Society

    Royal Entomological Society

    Royal Entomological Society HANDBOOKS FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF BRITISH INSECTS To purchase current handbooks and to download out-of-print parts visit: http://www.royensoc.co.uk/publications/index.htm This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 UK: England & Wales License. Copyright © Royal Entomological Society 2012 ROYAL ENTOMOLOGICAL , SOCIETY OF LONDON Vol. I. Part 1 (). HANDBOOKS FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF BRITISH INSECTS SIPHONAPTERA 13y F. G. A. M. SMIT LONDON Published by the Society and Sold at its Rooms - 41, Queen's Gate, S.W. 7 21st June, I9S7 Price £1 os. od. ACCESSION NUMBER ....... ................... British Entomological & Natural History Society c/o Dinton Pastures Country Park, Davis Street, Hurst, OTS - Reading, Berkshire RG 10 OTH .•' Presented by Date Librarian R EGULATIONS I.- No member shall be allowed to borrow more than five volumes at a time, or to keep any of tbem longer than three months. 2.-A member shall at any time on demand by the Librarian forthwith return any volumes in his possession. 3.-Members damaging, losing, or destroying any book belonging to the Society shall either provide a new copy or pay such sum as tbe Council shall tbink fit. ) "1' > ) I .. ··•• · ·• "V>--· .•. .t ... -;; ·· · ·- ~~- -~· · · ····· · · { · · · l!i JYt.11'ian, ,( i-es; and - REGU--LATIONS dthougll 1.- Books may b - ~dapted, ; ~ 2 -~ . e borrowed at . !.l :: - --- " . ~ o Member shall b . all Meeflfll(s of the So J t Volumes at a time o; ,IJJowed to borrow more c e y . 3.- An y Mem ber r t '. to keep them lonl{er th than three b.ecorn_e SPecified f e a Jn!ng a \'oJume a n one m on th.
  • The External Parasites of Birds: a Review

    The External Parasites of Birds: a Review

    THE EXTERNAL PARASITES OF BIRDS: A REVIEW BY ELIZABETH M. BOYD Birds may harbor a great variety and numher of ectoparasites. Among the insects are biting lice (Mallophaga), fleas (Siphonaptera), and such Diptera as hippohoscid flies (Hippohoscidae) and the very transitory mosquitoes (Culicidae) and black flies (Simuliidae), which are rarely if every caught on animals since they fly off as soon as they have completed their blood-meal. One may also find, in birds ’ nests, bugs of the hemipterous family Cimicidae, and parasitic dipterous larvae that attack nestlings. Arachnida infesting birds comprise the hard ticks (Ixodidae), soft ticks (Argasidae), and certain mites. Most ectoparasites are blood-suckers; only the Ischnocera lice and some species of mites subsist on skin components. The distribution of ectoparasites on the host varies with the parasite concerned. Some show no habitat preference while others tend to confine themselves to, or even are restricted to, definite areas on the body. A list of 198 external parasites for 2.55 species and/or subspecies of birds east of the Mississippi has been compiled by Peters (1936) from files of the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine between 1928 and 1935. Fleas and dipterous larvae were omitted from this list. According to Peters, it is possible to collect three species of lice, one or two hippoboscids, and several types of mites on a single bird. He records as many as 15 species of ectoparasites each from the Bob-white (Co&us uirginianus), Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia), and Robin (Turdus migratorius). The lice and plumicolous mites, however, are typically the most abundant forms present on avian hosts.
  • A Check List of the Fleas of British Columbia with a Note on Fleas in Relation to Sawdust in Homes

    A Check List of the Fleas of British Columbia with a Note on Fleas in Relation to Sawdust in Homes

    Proceedings, 1935 11 A CHECK LIST OF THE FLEAS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA WITH A NOTE ON FLEAS IN RELATION TO SAWDUST IN HOMES By C. J. S pencer As far as 1 can determine fro m a check o f publi shed li sts of insects o f this Provin ce. the only mention of loca l F leas is a short li st of s ix species, apparently contributed by the energetic secretary of our Society at that time, Capt. R. V. Harvey. The li st was published in the (then) Bulletin of the British Columbia E ntom ological Society, Q uarterly, Sep­ tember, 1907, No.7. The fo lloll'ing specIes a re mentioned: 1. Pulex irritans Linn. 2. Ctenocephalus canis Curtis. (On cats and dogs) . 3. Ceratophyllus gallinae Schra nk. (On poultry). 4. C. Charlottensis Baker. ( In a m ouse nest ). 5. C. keeni Baker.(On Perom yscus keeni ) . G. C. perpinnatus Baker. That is the bare li st, without locality o r coll ector 's records. If the fir st record, that o f the huma n flea, is auth entic, then our later records of this in sect in our midst must be antedated by sel'era l years and a long -existing fear of mine that this in sect may assume plague pro por­ tion s in Vancou ver if it gets established, may be laid at rest . If Har vey found it here 27 years ago a nd it is still of very spasm odi c occurrence, then we m ay have no furt her fear o f its beco111ing general.
  • Investigations on the Abundance of Ectoparasites and Vector-Borne Pathogens in Southwest Madagascar

    Investigations on the Abundance of Ectoparasites and Vector-Borne Pathogens in Southwest Madagascar

    Investigations on the abundance of ectoparasites and vector-borne pathogens in southwest Madagascar Dissertation with the aim of achieving a doctoral degree at the Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences Department of Biology University of Hamburg submitted by Julian Ehlers Hamburg, 2020 Reviewers: Prof. Dr. Jörg Ganzhorn, Universität Hamburg PD Dr. Andreas Krüger, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Date of oral defense: 19.06.2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of contents Summary 1 Zusammenfassung 3 Chapter 1: General introduction 5 Chapter 2: Ectoparasites of endemic and domestic animals in 33 southwest Madagascar Chapter 3: Molecular detection of Rickettsia spp., Borrelia spp., 63 Bartonella spp. and Yersinia pestis in ectoparasites of endemic and domestic animals in southwest Madagascar Chapter 4: General discussion 97 SUMMARY Summary Human encroachment on natural habitats is steadily increasing due to the rapid growth of the worldwide population. The consequent expansion of agricultural land and livestock husbandry, accompanied by spreading of commensal animals, create new interspecific contact zones that are major regions of risk of the emergence of diseases and their transmission between livestock, humans and wildlife. Among the emerging diseases of the recent years those that originate from wildlife reservoirs are of outstanding importance. Many vector-borne diseases are still underrecognized causes of fever throughout the world and tend to be treated as undifferentiated illnesses. The lack of human and animal health facilities, common in rural areas, bears the risk that vector-borne infections remain unseen, especially if they are not among the most common. Ectoparasites represent an important route for disease transmission besides direct contact to infected individuals.
  • Peregrine Falcon from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia Jump To: Navigation, Search Peregrine Falcon

    Peregrine Falcon from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia Jump To: Navigation, Search Peregrine Falcon

    HISTORY OF AMBULANCE Posted by HeArt BeaT ^_^ at 12:34 AM Selama Perang Salib abad ke-11, Knights of St John menerima pengajaran dalam perawatan pertolongan pertama dari dokter Arab dan Yunani. The Knights of St John kemudian bertindak sebagai pekerja darurat pertama, mengobati tentara di kedua sisi perang di medan perang dan membawa yang terluka ke tenda terdekat untuk perawatan lebih lanjut. Konsep layanan ambulans dimulai di Eropa dengan Knights of St John, pada saat yang sama itu juga menjadi praktik umum yang dihadiahi reward kecil yang harus dibayarkan kepada prajurit yang membawa prajurit yang terluka lainnya untuk perawatan medis. GUNUNG VESUVIUS PEMUSNAH PERADABAN POMPEII Posted by HeArt BeaT ^_^ at 11:42 PM Hari ini hampir 2000 tahun yang lalu, tepatnya tanggal 24 Agustus tahun 79, terjadi letusan dahsyat gunung Vesuvius tak jauh dari ujung selatan Italia. Konon letusan itu adalah yang pertama setelah gunung api tersebut tertidur lelap selama berabad-abad. Letak Vesuvius, dari http://volcano.und.nodak.edu Gunung Vesuvius yang menurut legenda berarti “Putra Ves/Zeus” alias Hercules, terletak di kawasan Campagnia dekat Teluk Napoli, tak jauh dari kota industri dan perdagangan Pompeii yang ketika itu berpenduduk lebih dari 20 ribu jiwa. Tak jauh dari sana juga terdapat kota peristirahatan musim panas, Herculaneum, yang dipenuhi villa, pemandian ala Romawi, dan tak lupa perjudian. Di sekitarnya dapat dijumpai perkebunan anggur yang luas, juga beberapa kota kecil seperti Stabiae. Letusan pada tahun 79 ini diawali oleh sebuah gempa besar pada tahun 62. Tetapi bangsa Romawi pada masa itu tidak menghubungkan gempa dengan aktivitas gunung berapi. Mungkin ini karena mereka, terutama di Campagnia, sudah terbiasa dengan banyaknya getaran dan goncangan bumi, kecil dan besar.
  • Ectoparasites of Nestling European Starlings (Sturnus Vulgaris) from a Nest Box Colony in Nova Scotia, Canada

    Ectoparasites of Nestling European Starlings (Sturnus Vulgaris) from a Nest Box Colony in Nova Scotia, Canada

    J. Acad. Entomol. Soc. 10: 19-22 (2014) NOTE Ectoparasites of nestling European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) from a nest box colony in Nova Scotia, Canada Evan R. Fairn, Mark A.W. Hornsby, Terry D. Galloway, and Colleen A. Barber Birds are infested by a variety of ectoparasites that can have detrimental effects on host fitness (reviewed in Loye and Zuk 1991; Clayton and Moore 1997; Hamstra and Badyaev 2009; Wolfs et al. 2012). The European starling (Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus) is a cavity-nesting passerine native to much of Eurasia and introduced to several other geographic areas, including North America (Cabe 1993). This species, like most, is infested by many ectoparasites including lice, mites, fleas, flies, and ticks (Boyd 1951; Clayton et al. 2010; Wolfs et al. 2012; Hornsby et al. 2013). In North America, European starlings can harbor both New and Old World ectoparasites (Boyd 1951). However, the ectoparasite community of this host has not been well documented for much of its North American range. Despite being present in Nova Scotia, Canada since the 1930s (Cabe 1993), the ectoparasite faunal information is limited to one study wherein Carnus hemapterus Nitzsch (Diptera: Carnidae), and unidentified species of lice, fleas, and mites infested nestlings (Hornsby et al. 2013). Here, we provide more detailed information on the ectoparasites infesting both nestling European starlings and their nests from the same population studied by Hornsby et al. (2013). Forty-five nest boxes on the campus of Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (44°39’N, 63°34’W) were available for breeding European starlings (see Hornsby et al.
  • Morphology Reveals the Unexpected Cryptic Diversity in Ceratophyllus Gallinae (Schrank, 1803) Infested Cyanistes Caeruleus Linnaeus, 1758 Nest Boxes

    Morphology Reveals the Unexpected Cryptic Diversity in Ceratophyllus Gallinae (Schrank, 1803) Infested Cyanistes Caeruleus Linnaeus, 1758 Nest Boxes

    Acta Parasitologica (2020) 65:874–881 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-020-00239-6 ORIGINAL PAPER Morphology Reveals the Unexpected Cryptic Diversity in Ceratophyllus gallinae (Schrank, 1803) Infested Cyanistes caeruleus Linnaeus, 1758 Nest Boxes Olga Pawełczyk1 · Tomasz Postawa2 · Marian Blaski3 · Krzysztof Solarz1 Received: 6 June 2019 / Accepted: 29 May 2020 / Published online: 8 June 2020 © The Author(s) 2020 Abstract Purpose The main aim of our study was to examine morphological diferentiation between and within sex of hen feas— Ceratophyllus gallinae (Schrank, 1803) population collected from Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus Linnaeus, 1758), inhabiting nest boxes and to determine the morphological parameters diferentiating this population. Methods A total of 296 feas were collected (148 females and 148 males), determined to species and sex, then the following characters were measured in each of the examined feas: body length, body width, length of head, width of head, length of comb, height of comb, length of tarsus, length of thorax and length of abdomen. Results The comparison of body size showed the presence of two groups among female and male life forms of the hen fea, which mostly difered in length of abdomen, whereas the length of head and tarsus III were less variable. Conclusion Till now, the only certain information is the presence of two adult life forms of C. gallinae. The genesis of their creation is still unknown and we are not able to identify the mechanism responsible for the morphological diferentiation of feas collected from the same host. In order to fnd answer to this question, future research in the feld of molecular taxonomy is required.
  • Host-Parasite Interactions and Population Dynamics of Rock Ptarmigan

    Host-Parasite Interactions and Population Dynamics of Rock Ptarmigan

    RESEARCH ARTICLE Host-Parasite Interactions and Population Dynamics of Rock Ptarmigan Ute Stenkewitz1,2,3*, OÂ lafur K. Nielsen2, Karl SkõÂrnisson3, Gunnar StefaÂnsson4 1 Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Askja, ReykjavõÂk, Iceland, 2 Icelandic Institute of Natural History, Garðabñr, Iceland, 3 Institute for Experimental Pathology, University of Iceland, Keldur, ReykjavõÂk, Iceland, 4 Science Institute, University of Iceland, ReykjavõÂk, Iceland * [email protected] a11111 Abstract Populations of rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) in Iceland fluctuate in multiannual cycles with peak numbers c. every 10 years. We studied the ptarmigan-parasite community and how parasites relate to ptarmigan age, body condition, and population density. We collected 632 ptarmigan in northeast Iceland in early October from 2006 to 2012; 630 (99.7%) were OPEN ACCESS infected with at least one parasite species, 616 (98%) with ectoparasites, and 536 (85%) Citation: Stenkewitz U, Nielsen OÂK, SkõÂrnisson K, with endoparasites. We analysed indices for the combined parasite community (16 species) StefaÂnsson G (2016) Host-Parasite Interactions and known pathogenic parasites, two coccidian protozoans Eimeria muta and Eimeria and Population Dynamics of Rock Ptarmigan. PLoS ONE 11(11): e0165293. doi:10.1371/journal. rjupa, two nematodes Capillaria caudinflata and Trichostrongylus tenuis, one chewing louse pone.0165293 Amyrsidea lagopi, and one skin mite Metamicrolichus islandicus. Juveniles overall had Editor: Mark S. Boyce, University of Alberta, more ectoparasites than adults, but endoparasite levels were similar in both groups. Ptarmi- CANADA gan population density was associated with endoparasites, and in particular prevalence of Received: February 11, 2016 the coccidian parasite Eimeria muta. Annual aggregation level of this eimerid fluctuated inversely with prevalence, with lows at prevalence peak and vice versa.
  • I UNIVERSITY of CENTRAL OKLAHOMA Edmond, Oklahoma

    I UNIVERSITY of CENTRAL OKLAHOMA Edmond, Oklahoma

    UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA Edmond, Oklahoma Jackson College of Graduate Studies Disease Surveillance and Projected Expansion in Climatic Suitability for Trypanosoma cruzi, the Etiological Agent of Chagas Disease, in Oklahoma A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE FACULTY In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY By Matthew Dillon Nichols Edmond, Oklahoma 2018 i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The completion of this project would not have been possible without the help and dedication from many people. I am thankful to my advisor, Dr. Wayne Lord, for his continual patience, guidance, encouragement, knowledge, and support. He fostered my interests in pathogenic microorganisms, notably parasites. This began when I enrolled in his parasitology course as an undergraduate and fell in love with the fascinating world of parasites. It was during this course that I decided to pursue a graduate degree and met with him to formulate a project that encompassed an emerging parasite in the United States. I would also like to thank the other members of my graduate committee, Dr. Michelle Haynie, Dr. Robert Brennan, and Dr. Vicki Jackson, for their constructive comments, project advice, and support throughout my thesis. I would like to thank Dr. Michelle Haynie for letting me use her laboratory to conduct my molecular work, laboratory training, and verifying my methods, for her positive reassurance during troubleshooting, and for patiently answering my questions and concerns. I would like to thank Dr. Chris Butler for his assistance with ecological niche modeling. I would like to thank Dr. William Caire for his guidance, mammalogy training, and assisting our team in safe field collection.
  • Gene Flow and Adaptive Potential in a Generalist Ectoparasite Anaïs S

    Gene Flow and Adaptive Potential in a Generalist Ectoparasite Anaïs S

    Appelgren et al. BMC Evolutionary Biology (2018) 18:99 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-018-1205-2 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Gene flow and adaptive potential in a generalist ectoparasite Anaïs S. C. Appelgren1,2,3,4*, Verena Saladin1, Heinz Richner1†, Blandine Doligez2,3,5† and Karen D. McCoy4† Abstract Background: In host-parasite systems, relative dispersal rates condition genetic novelty within populations and thus their adaptive potential. Knowledge of host and parasite dispersal rates can therefore help us to understand current interaction patterns in wild populations and why these patterns shift over time and space. For generalist parasites however, estimates of dispersal rates depend on both host range and the considered spatial scale. Here, we assess the relative contribution of these factors by studying the population genetic structure of a common avian ectoparasite, the hen flea Ceratophyllus gallinae, exploiting two hosts that are sympatric in our study population, the great tit Parus major and the collared flycatcher Ficedula albicollis. Previous experimental studies have indicated that the hen flea is both locally maladapted to great tit populations and composed of subpopulations specialized on the two host species, suggesting limited parasite dispersal in space and among hosts, and a potential interaction between these two structuring factors. Results: C. gallinae fleas were sampled from old nests of the two passerine species in three replicate wood patches and were genotyped at microsatellite markers to assess population genetic structure at different scales (among individuals within a nest, among nests and between host species within a patch and among patches). As expected, significant structure was found at all spatial scales and between host species, supporting the hypothesis of limited dispersal in this parasite.
  • Crop Profile for Chicken in Virginia

    Crop Profile for Chicken in Virginia

    Crop Profile for Chicken in Virginia Prepared: March 2006 Image Credit: USDA Online Photography Center General Production Information 1, 2 ● In 2003, Virginia farmers ranked 9th nationally in broiler chicken production. 1.34 billion pounds worth $590,172,000 were produced in 2004. ● 21,099,000 chickens worth $1,329,000 were produced in 2004. ● In 2003, Virginia farmers ranked 31st nationally in egg production. 761 million eggs worth $69,758,000 were produced in 2004. PRODUCTION REGIONS 1 The Shenandoah Valley has approximately 590 chicken farms and is Virginia's top poultry-producing region. Rockingham County is the nation's second largest turkey-producing county. The top five poultry- processing companies in Virginia are Cargill Turkey Products, George's Foods, Pilgrim's Pride Corporation, Perdue Farms, and Tyson Foods. Cultural Practices 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 The Crop Profile/PMSP database, including this document, is supported by USDA NIFA. Poultry Housing: Poultry houses must protect the birds from predators, weather, injury, and theft. Birds are kept in either wide-span or high-rise (deep-pit) houses. It is important that the facilities are dry and draft free, with doors or windows that can be opened if necessary. Houses should be well insulated and built on high areas with floors that slope toward the door to prevent flooding. Doors should be installed so they open into the poultry house, not out. The windows, exercise pen, and front of the building should face south so poultry will get plenty of sun and warm air.
  • Duck Fleas As Evidence for Eiderdown Production on Archaeological Sites

    Duck Fleas As Evidence for Eiderdown Production on Archaeological Sites

    Duck fleas as evidence for eiderdown production on archaeological sites Véronique Forbes University of Aberdeen, School of Geosciences, Department of Archaeology, St Mary's Building, Elphinstone Road, Aberdeen AB24 3UF, UK Telephone: + 44 (0) 1224 273701; Fax: + 44 (0) 1224 272331 Email: [email protected] Abstract: Eiderdown has long been an important resource for northern cultures in the past but is overlooked in archaeology. Down, presumed to be from Eider ducks, has only been identified from a handful of high-status burials in Scandinavia. In order to test whether an archaeoentomological indicator for eiderdown production could be established, a survey of insects from two eiderdown productions sites in Iceland was conducted. The results identified over 500 duck fleas Ceratophyllus garei Rothschild and several beetle species from raw eiderdown and processing residue, as well as from pitfall traps placed in the floor of buildings where the down was stored and processed. It is argued that despite the fact that bird fleas parasitic on Eider ducks are not host-specific, their life history and microhabitat requirements, as well as the method employed to collect eiderdown, makes duck fleas a reliable indicator for eiderdown harvesting in archaeology. Highlights: - The importance of eiderdown as a trade and prestige item in northern Europe is discussed. - Results of a survey of modern insects from eiderdown production sites are presented. - Duck fleas are recognized as reliable indicators of eiderdown production. Keywords: archaeoentomology; archaeoparasitology; eiderdown; Eider ducks; bird fleas; trade 1. Introduction Eiderdown has long been an important resource for many northern cultures. The down was a prestige item, used in the past (not unlike today) to fill luxury quilts, pillows and outdoor clothing.