30th Annual Student Research Conference
Long-Term Pattern of Botfly Prevalence on Peromyscus leucopus in Adair County, Missouri
Kaleb Patania
Dr. Stephanie Fore, Faculty Mentor
Cuterebra is a genus of fly that parasitizes several rodents and lagomorphs during larval development; the white-footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus, is a common host. The objective of this study was to examine the long-term pattern of botfly parasitism in P. leucopus. Mice were live trapped once a month from 2006-2016 in permanent grids in two different habitats in Adair County, Missouri. Data from the infestation period, June-December, were considered in this study. Prevalence was determined by the number of infested mice to the total number of mice trapped during each monthly trapping session. Preliminary data shows a complete absence of botflies in 2008 and a peak year in 2011 with a count of 27 infestations. Further analysis will be done to determine if the prevalence of botfly infestation in P. leucopus varies among years.
Keywords: Cuterebra parasitizes several rodents., P. leucopus is a common host., June-December, Prevalence, permanent grid, monthly trapping sessions from 2006-2016.
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 105-5
Location: MG 2001
Time: 9:00