Coalition capacity assessment of Columbia coalitions for a healthier Columbia (a qualitative assessment) [abstract]

Obesity is one of the leading public health concerns in the United States in adults and children. This qualitative study focused on five coalitions involved in addressing this issue in Columbia, MO. The coalitions are Playgrounds Without Borders Community Steering Committee, Columbia Action Network, Healthy Environment Policy Initiative, Grow Healthy Columbia/Boone County Partnership, and Move More Eat Smart

The influence of increased contact rate among raccoons on a directly transmitted nematode, Baylisascaris procyonis [abstract]

Abstract only availableHuman encroachment on wildlife habitat can result in anthropogenic food sources that aggregate raccoons. This may have unintended consequences to wildlife and human health, as theoretical models predict parasite transmission is highly dependent on the contact rate and density of individuals within a population. We examined the influence of contact rate on a directly transmitted nematode (Baylisascaris procyonis) of raccoons that can infect and cause disease and mortality in a wide range of accidental hosts, including humans. Twelve populations of free-ranging raccoons were monitored for three years. After one year of baseline data collection, we experimentally altered the contact rate and resource availability of randomly selected populations via dispersed or clumped food distributions. Prior to manipulation, prevalence of B. procyonis averaged 9% across all sites (range 0-35%). During the experiment, prevalence of B. procyonis averaged 4% at control sites (no food added), 18% at sites that had dispersed food additions (which did not increase contact), and 22% at sites with clumped food additions that aggregated raccoons. Data collected prior to the experiment indicated that sites that were assigned to the dispersed food treatment had a naturally-occurring higher prevalence (13%) than the sites assigned to the control (5%) and aggregation treatment (9%), indicating that the high values observed in the dispersed food sites during the experiment may be due to site-specific differences rather than the addition of dispersed food. These results support the hypothesis that increased rates of contact can increase transmission of directly transmitted parasites such as B. procyonis, and emphasize the potentially important role of anthropogenic activity in the ecology of diseases when dealing with wildlife species that can take advantage of such resources and tolerate large aggregations of conspecifics

The influence of increased contact rate among raccoons on a nematode of public, and wildlife health concern, Baylisascar [abstract]

Abstract only availableNatural and anthropogenic fluctuations in resource availability can alter the behavioral ecology and population dynamics of wildlife. This may have unintended consequences to wildlife disease ecology, as theoretical models predict parasite transmission is highly dependent on contact rate and density of individuals within a population. We examined the influence of alterations in the behavioral ecology of hosts on the nematode Baylisascaris procyonis of raccoons, that can infect and cause disease and mortality in a variety of animals, including humans. Twelve populations of free-ranging raccoons were monitored for three years. After one year of baseline data collection, we experimentally altered the contact rate and resource availability of randomly selected populations via dispersed or clumped food distributions. Rates of contact were measured via remote cameras and host characteristics (age, sex) and infection of B. procyonis in individuals were assessed via live-capture and standard sugar flotation techniques. Prevalence of B. procyonis averaged 6.5% at three control sites (no food added; n=186 individuals), 14.3% at four sites had dispersed food additions (n=42), and 21% at five sites with clumped food additions that aggregated raccoons (n=81). The 95% confidence interval of prevalence at experimental sites did not overlap with values observed at control sites. Data collected prior to manipulation indicated that differences observed during the experiment were not due to naturally occurring differences at those sites; prevalence of B. procyonis averaged 2.3% at sites assigned to the control category, 5.4% at sites assigned to the dispersed food category, and 4.1% at sites assigned to the experimental category. These results support the hypothesis that increased rates of contact can increase transmission of parasites such as B. procyonis, and emphasize the potentially important role of anthropogenic activity in wildlife disease ecology when dealing with species that can take advantage of such resources and tolerate aggregations of conspecifics.NSF Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmental Biolog