Primary Interest: Parasite Transmission in Human-Altered Landscapes
Baylisascaris procyonis is a common roundworm parasite of raccoons, the definitive host. Adult worms live and reproduce in the small intestine of raccoons, and thousands of eggs are eliminated with feces. Because raccoons use common locations for defecation (latrines), large accumulations of eggs can accumulate in the environment. Latrines are the foci of transmission to intermediate hosts (small vertebrates) that forage for undigested seed among raccoon feces. When latrines occur in areas of high human use, accidental infections can occur with devastating results. We are interested in the transmission dynamics of this parasite in human-altered landscapes. Increases in environmental levels of eggs and subsequent increases in transmission could lead to localized declines in biodiversity and increased risk of accidental human infections.
Publications:
Page, L. K., R.K. Swihart, and K.R. Kazacos. 1998. Raccoon latrine structure and its potential role in parasite transmission of Baylisascaris procyonis to vertebrates. American Midland Naturalist 140:180-185.
Page, L. K., R.K. Swihart, and K.R. Kazacos. 1999. Implications of raccoon latrines in the epizootiology of Baylisascariasis. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 35:474-480.
Rhodes, O.E., Jr., R.N. Williams, J. Heffelfinger, L. K. Page, E. P. Reat, and J. C. DeVos, Jr. 1999. Genetic variation in pronghorn from Arizona. 18th Biennial Pronghorn Antelope Workshop Proceedings.
Williams, R.N., L.K. Page, T.L. Serfass, O.E. Rhodes, Jr. 1999. Genetic polymorphism in fishers (Martes pennanti). American Midland Naturalist 141:406-410.
Page, L. K., R.K. Swihart, and K.R. Kazacos. 2001. Changes in transmission of Baylisascaris procyonis as a function of spatial scale. Oikos 93:213-220.
Page, L.K., R.K. Swihart, and K.R. Kazacos. 2001. Foraging among feces: food availability affects parasitism of Peromyscus leucopus by Baylisascaris procyonis. Journal of Mammalogy 82(4):993-1002
Page, L.K., R.K. Swihart, and K.R. Kazacos. 2001. The roles of seed preference and foraging by granivores at raccoon latrines in transmission dynamics of raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis). Canadian Journal of Zoology 79:616-622.
Curtis, J., R.E. Sorensen, L.K. Page, D.J. Minchella. 2001. Microsatellite loci in the human blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni and their utility for other schistosome species. Molecular Ecology Notes 1:143-145.
Kloos, H., DeSouza C., Gazzinelli, A., Silveira, B., Filho, S., da Costa Temba, P., Bethony, J., Page, K., Grzywacz, C., Lewis, F., Minchella, D., LoVerde, P., and Oliveria, R. 2001. The distribution of Biomphalaria spp. In different habitats in relation to physical, biological, water contact and cognitive factors in a rural area in Minas Gerias, Brazil. Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 96:57-66.
Rowe, C., Ittiprasert, W., Patterson, C., Eliff, C., Page, K., Lewis, F., Minchella, D., and Knight, M. in press. Use of microsatellite variation and RAPD-PCR to assess genetic polymorphism in Biomphalaria glabrata snails from a single locale in a shistosomiasis endemic area. Malacologia.
Page, L.K., S.D Gehrt, K.K. Titcombe, and N.P. Robinson. in press. Measuring Prevalence of Raccoon Roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis): A comparison of common techniques.– Wildlife Society Bulletin
Collaborative Research with Students (2005-2006)
Andrea Cascione– Population structure of raccoons infected with Baylisascaris procyonis
Naomi Chen– Evaluation of Community-based Diabetes Management Programs.
Grace Chin– Factors associated with the establisment of raccoon latrines
Ken Kellner– Transmission dynamics of Baylisascaris procyonis – addressing scale
Laura Madsen– Factors associated with the establisment of raccoon latrines
Chika Okoronkwo– Factors associated with hospitilization in Thailand (HNGR)
Mike Tagge– Effect of ethanol on seratonin pathways in Caenorhabditis elegans
Elizabeth Walter– Structure of Baylisascaris procyonis populations.
Daniel Zeccola– Availability of Antiretroviral Therapy and Socioeconomic Status in Uganda (HNGR)
Collaborative Research with Students (2004-2005)
Zach Beatty – high school student from the University of Chicago Lab SchoolAssessment of RAPDs for determining subspecific differences in Oncomelania hupensis.
Alyssa Davis – Assessment of water contact rates and water quality in rural India.
Laura Madsen – Comparison of historical and current prevalence of Baylisascaris procyonis at Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area, Indiana.
Nathaniel Robinson – Disease transmission dynamics as a function of predominant land use.
Elizabeth Walter – Population structure of Baylisascaris procyonis with raccoon hosts.
Amanda Wells – Reproductive strategies of Phoebes (Sayornis phoebe)
Previous Projects (2003-2004)
Becky Beran – Microsatellite variation and susceptibility of Raccoons (Procyon lotor) to infection with Baylisascaris procyonis – Presented at the Annual Midwestern Conference of Parasitology (June 2004).
Richard Colquitt – Prevalence of HIV among antenatal women in rural Kenya.
Brian Pottorf – Prevalence of Baylisascaris procyonis in a suburban neighborhood: How do we define risk of zoonosis?
Nathaniel Robinson – The dynamics of human-altered landscapes in the Masai Steppe Heartland of Tanzania: Constructing an Outline of Habitat Change of the Manyara Basin.Previous Projects (2002-2003)
Previous Projects (2002-2003)
Becky Beran – “Use fecal DNA extraction and microsatellite primers to determine habitat use of raccoons” – comparing fingerprinting from fecal and tissue DNA extractions
Nick Cudney – “Use fecal DNA extraction and microsatellite primers to determine habitat use of raccoons” – comparing fingerprinting from fecal and tissue DNA extractions
Meredith DeHaan – “Investigating transmission dynamics of Schistosoma mansoni: effects of snail density on penetration of miracidia”
Lesley Ediger – “Development of Conservation strategies of Red-fronted Macaws in Bolivia”
Kristen Garate – “Projecting risk of human infection with Baylisascaris procyonis using geographic information systems (GIS)”
Sarah Kron – “Investigating transmission dynamics of Schistosoma mansoni: effects of snail density on penetration of miracidia”
Chelsea Lautz – “Population structure of Baylisascaris procyonis with raccoon hosts as a function of season and landscape”
Nathaniel Robinson – “Distribution and prevalence of Baylisascaris procyonis as a function of predominant land-use.”
Becca Scudiere – “Investigating transmission dynamics of Schistosoma mansoni: effects of snail density on penetration of miracidia”
Amanda Wells – “Use fecal DNA extraction and microsatellite primers to determine habitat use of raccoons” – comparing fingerprinting from fecal and tissue DNA extractions and “Evaluating measures to deter use of latrines by raccoons”
Previous Projects (2000-2002)
Krista Anderson – “Importance of intermediate host behavior in the transmission dynamics of Baylisascaris procyonis.”
Jennifer Bates – “Use fecal DNA extraction and microsatellite primers to determine habitat use of raccoons.” – refining methodology
Drew Coppess – “Models of parasite transmission using geographic information systems.”
Nick Cudney – Designing studies of parasite transmission at Brookfield Zoo.
Meredith DeHaan – “Development of RAPDs to differentiate subspecies of Oncomelania hupensis.”
Paul Haidle – “Models of parasite transmission using geographic information systems.”
Ellen Luy – “Seasonal abundance and distribution of raccoon latrines and the relationship to prevalence of Baylisascaris procyonis.” And “Parasite abundance and diversity in the long-tail weasel (Mustela frenata).”
Adam Sawatsky – “Use of microsatellite markers to determine the genetic variation of a population of parasites (Schistosoma mansoni) within a single host.
Erin Schrader – “Projecting risk of human infection with Baylisascaris procyonis using geographic information systems (GIS)”
Josh Taylor – “Models of parasite transmission using geographic information systems.”
Kristin Titcombe – “The relationship of raccoon population structure to prevalence of a roundworm parasite.”