The Analysis of Internal Parasites in Mosquitofish Throughout Texas

Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) are a species of small fish commonly found in many different freshwater environments throughout Texas. However, the ecology of these environments varies as each habitat is unique with differing communities. Parasites are often overlooked in these environments and can lend clues to ecological relationships between organisms within the parasite’s life cycle. This study will examine the parasites within the internal organs and eyes of female mosquitofish obtained from three different freshwater lakes throughout Texas and compare the parasitic species found in each location. From the data collected we can learn more about organismal interactions in these environments

Extensive Mammalian Ancestry of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Virus

We demonstrate that the novel pandemic influenza (H1N1) viruses have human virus–like receptor specificity and can no longer replicate in aquatic waterfowl, their historic natural reservoir. The biological properties of these viruses are consistent with those of their phylogenetic progenitors, indicating longstanding adaptation to mammals

Use of ELISA to test seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in cats of Tom Green County

The purpose of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in cats Tom Green County. We coordinated with four different veterinary offices in the county to collect the remains of blood samples taken in their practices for clinical tests. Using an ELISA, we tested the blood samples to determine if they had IgG antibodies against T. gondii, thus suggesting that they were or are currently infected. We found that 90% of the cats were positive for IgG antibodies to T. gondii, but there were no significant P-values for the seroprevalence of cats based on the animal’s sex, age, gender, and location in the county. This study is significant because 90% is higher than the seroprevalence we most commonly found in the literature of 30%-60%. In addition to this, Tom Green County is located in a dry region of west Texas which makes it harder for oocysts to survive in the environment and should result in a lower seroprevalence.Head of the River Ranch Travel Grant ASU Undergraduate Faculty Mentored semester long research gran

An inquiry in the prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis in domestic and stray dogs in Tom Green County through ELISA

The objective of this project is to determine the risk of exposure to Dirofilaria immitis in dogs in Tom Green County by measuring antibody titers against the parasite. Host factors will be examined to determine if gender, age, geographical area are correlated with antibody titers. The results will help better determine if dog heartworm medications should be used in this area.Head of the River Ranch travel grant and ASU Undergraduate Faculty Mentored Semester long research gran

Thermostability of Subpopulations of H2N3 Influenza Virus Isolates from Mallard Ducks ▿

Maintenance of avian influenza virus in waterfowl populations requires that virions remain infectious while in the environment. Temperature has been shown to negatively correlate with persistence time, which is the duration for which virions are infectious. However, thermostability can vary between isolates regardless of subtype, and it is not known whether this variation occurs when host and geographic location of isolation are controlled. In this study, we analyzed the thermostabilities of 7 H2N3 viruses isolated from mallard ducks in Alberta, Canada. Virus samples were incubated at 37°C and 55°C, and infectivity titers were calculated at different time points. Based on the rate of infectivity inactivation at 37°C, isolates could be grouped into either a thermosensitive or thermostable fraction for both egg- and MDCK-grown virus populations. Titers decreased more rapidly for isolates incubated at 55°C, and this loss of infectivity occurred in a nonlinear, 2-step process, which is in contrast with the consensus on thermostability. This suggests that stock samples contain a mixture of subpopulations with different thermostabilities. The rate of decrease for the sensitive fraction was approximately 14 times higher than that for the stable fraction. The presence of subpopulations is further supported by selection experiments and plaque purification, both of which result in homogenous populations that exhibit linear decreases of infectivity titer. Therefore, variation of thermostability of influenza virus isolates begins at the level of the population. The presence of subpopulations with high thermostability suggests that avian viruses can persist in water longer than previously estimated, thus increasing the probability of transmission to susceptible hosts

Egg-laying habits of Slosser’s buckmoth (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) from Andrews County in northwest Texas

A study of an egg-laying behavior unique to only a few genera of moths.Hemileuca slosseri inhabits the rolling sand plains of southeastern New Mexico, northwest Texas, and southwestern Oklahoma, where the larval stages of this species feed exclusively on the leaves of Quercus havardii. Adults emerge in November and immediately complete their egg laying activities. Observations in the field during the fall of 2013 reveal that many of the newly deposited egg rings were positioned in close proximity to existing hatched egg rings left over from the previous year. This study was undertaken to observe the egg laying habits of H. slosseri in Andrews County and determine if there is any correlation between the presence of existing hatched egg rings and the deposition of new eggs. Following all seasonal reproductive and egg laying activities in January of 2014, a 12 by 40 meter study area was established adjacent to Hwy 115 approximately 13 km SW of Andrews, Texas. All egg rings were mapped as to location, and height above ground as well as the stem diameter of each egg ring was recorded. A total of 134 egg rings were observed on the study plot (91 hatched and 43 un-hatched). Height above ground did not vary between new and old egg cases (Unhatched: 22.8±0.79 cm; Hatched: 20.7±0.66 cm; P<0.065), but new eggs were found on smaller stems compared to old eggs (Unhatched: 1.69±0.089 mm; Hatched: 2.17±0.072 mm; P<0.0002). All egg cases exhibited an aggregated dispersion that appeared to follow the dispersion of the Q. havardii. Nearest neighbor analysis supports this claim, but it does not suggest an association between new and old egg rings. Therefore, stem diameter and not presence of hatched egg cases appears to be the determining factor in the positioning of the new egg rings. Additional field studies are currently underway and should provide a more complete resolution of the factors affecting oviposition in female moths.Center for Innovation in Teaching and Research - First Year Research Experience Progra

Genetic Variation within a Species of Parasitic Nematode, Skrjabingylus chitwoodorum, in Skunks

Carnivores in the families Mustelidae and Mephitidae are essential hosts for the cranial roundworm genus Skrjabingylus. A high prevalence of Skrjabingylus chitwoodorum has been observed in the striped skunk, Mephitis mephitis. Genetic barcoding studies of other nematodes have successfully used the cytochrome oxidase I (COI) mitochondrial gene to analyze genetic variation and divergence. We tested the hypothesis that low population structuring occurs within S. chitwoodorum because M. mephitis is widespread across much of North America and has high levels of gene flow. We extracted DNA from 38 samples of Skrjabingylus removed from the sinuses of M. mephitis and one from the plains spotted skunk, Spilogale putorius interrupta, for amplification and sequencing of COI. Analysis of 492 base pairs confirmed all samples were S. chitwoodorum and showed low genetic divergence (1.0%) within Texas, but high haplotype diversity. Supporting our hypothesis, no obvious divergent lineages based on geographic location were recovered within the samples based on Maximum Likelihood analysis and median joining haplotype network analysis. In fact, samples of Skrjabingylus from New York and South Dakota showed little difference compared with samples from Texas