Please email Ms. Annette Spivy (aspivy@umd.edu) if you are interested in this opportunity!
*****
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), along with State and County authorities, began a cooperative campaign (presently known as the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program) in 1906 to eliminate bovine babesiosis from the U.S. cattle population. Bovine babesiosis is an often-fatal disease of cattle and commonly known by several names, including cattle tick fever. Bovine babesiosis is transmitted to cattle by Cattle fever ticks (Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus).
The disease and the ticks were officially eradicated from the continental United States in 1943, except for a narrow permanent quarantine buffer zone in south Texas that extends from the city of Del Rio, Texas, to the Gulf of Mexico. The buffer zone has since been extended under blanket quarantine for Cameron and Willacy Counties in Texas. The introduction of non-native Nilgai antelope and other exotics to south Texas game ranches complicates efforts to keep the U.S. free of cattle fever ticks and bovine babesiosis. Many of these animals can escape their confines and breed, creating more potential hosts for cattle fever ticks. Native species such as white-tailed deer are hosts of cattle fever ticks in the U.S. and Mexico and may facilitate the movement of ticks between countries. White-tailed deer and Nilgai antelope promote the continuation of cattle fever tick infestation in pastures and disperse the ticks throughout northeast Mexico and south Texas.
Three independent research projects opportunities:
1. Identify the similarities and differences between whitetail deer and Nilgai antelope issues and ranges.
Skills used/developed in this project: understanding of wildlife ecology, including migration patterns and interactions and other spatial analyses; literature searches; presentation and display of complex data
2. Enhance outreach to small County producer groups in the counties experiencing the highest number of new outbreaks, with a focus on the southern region.-Develop outreach plan
Skills used/developed in this project: understanding livestock production practices, including social and cultural dynamics; presentation or display of scientific information to a lay audience; communications skills.
3. Identify approaches to reducing wildlife host numbers within counties in which cattle fever ticks are established and spreading
Skills used/developed in this project: understanding of wildlife ecology and management; literature searches