Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Keyword
-
- Selenium (7)
- Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (3)
- Bioaccumulation (3)
- Metabolism (3)
- South Dakota (3)
-
- 3D Printing (2)
- Amphibian (2)
- Chameleon (2)
- EEG (2)
- Ecotoxicology (2)
- Exercise (2)
- False Map Turtle (2)
- Fish (2)
- Geomorphology (2)
- Infection (2)
- Invasive Species (2)
- Machine learning (2)
- Muscle (2)
- Ranavirus (2)
- Recovery (2)
- (R)-DOI; Inflammation; Stress (1)
- 26S proteasome (1)
- 3D Modelling (1)
- 3D Printing Applications (1)
- Abiotic stress tolerance (1)
- Adaptive radiation (1)
- Aging (1)
- Alcohol (1)
- Alpha neurofeedback (1)
- Amblyomma americanum (1)
- Publication
Articles 1 - 30 of 65
Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network
Measuring The Effects Of Selenium Exposure On Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis (Bd) Growth In Vivo In Larval American Bullfrogs (Rana Catesbeiana)., Taylor Morrison
Measuring The Effects Of Selenium Exposure On Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis (Bd) Growth In Vivo In Larval American Bullfrogs (Rana Catesbeiana)., Taylor Morrison
Honors Thesis
Most amphibians in today’s world are exposed to a variety of environmental stressors. This project’s main objective was to determine any effects of selenium on Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and infection levels in South Dakota amphibians. I selected American bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) as they are susceptible to Bd and are found throughout eastern South Dakota. The secondary objective of this project was to measure any impact of Bd and selenium, combined, on growth measures of the frogs. The third objective was to see if survival rates were reduced when amphibians were exposed to Bd and selenium. Tadpoles were collected (n=225) from …
Comparing Oxidative Balance Of Summer And Winter Acclimatized Birds, Olivia R. Gulseth
Comparing Oxidative Balance Of Summer And Winter Acclimatized Birds, Olivia R. Gulseth
Honors Thesis
The oxidative stress system allows air-breathing animals to deal with the potentially harmful byproducts of metabolism. How this system reacts to the increasing thermoregulatory demands in winter for birds from cold winter climates is poorly understood. The purpose of this project was to compare the oxidative balance of summer (warm acclimatized) and winter (cold acclimatized) phenotypes of overwintering songbirds in South Dakota to determine if there is a significant difference between the seasonal phenotypes and among species. Seasonal differences in oxidative balance were expected due to the increased metabolic costs of elevating metabolism to maintain body temperature during winter. Blood …
Monitoring Selenium Bioaccumulation In False Map Turtles (Graptemys Pseudogeographica), Grant M. Budden
Monitoring Selenium Bioaccumulation In False Map Turtles (Graptemys Pseudogeographica), Grant M. Budden
Honors Thesis
Selenium is an element that becomes bioactivated in aquatic environments. Selenium bioaccumulation may threaten a South Dakota state-threatened species, the False Map Turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica). Invertebrate filter feeder species like zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) uptake selenium via exposure. Previous laboratory work has found that False Map Turtles consume large amounts of zebra mussels throughout the summer, leading to selenium bioaccumulation from selenium transfer from prey to predator. A myriad of adverse effects, like selenosis, reproductive infertility, and death, are associated with high selenium concentrations. Sampling was completed on False Map Turtles in the summer of 2022. …
Metabolic Scaling Of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates, Jacob Woelber
Metabolic Scaling Of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates, Jacob Woelber
Honors Thesis
The common assumption in regard to metabolic rate scaling with body size is the 3/4 law, which predicts a scaling exponent of 0.75 between log metabolic rate and log body size. Supporting evidence exists for this theory on a large, general scale. However, factors such as temperature, predation, and environment can cause the scaling exponent to deviate from 0.75. This paper takes a closer look at the effects of temperature and predation on metabolic rates via oxygen consumption in freshwater macroinvertebrate populations. To do this, 24 tanks were filled with water to allow natural populations of macroinvertebrates (predominantly Chironomidae) to …
The Role Of Uchl1 In Skeletal Muscle Development And Regeneration, Ryan Antony
The Role Of Uchl1 In Skeletal Muscle Development And Regeneration, Ryan Antony
Dissertations and Theses
Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1) is a deubiquitinating enzyme that was originally discovered in neurons. UCHL1 is also expressed in skeletal muscle, but its functions remain to be fully understood. Myogenesis is a critical process involved in embryonic development, growth, and regeneration following injury. Skeletal muscle injury is prevalent in trauma and surgical procedures, and skeletal muscle ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is a common yet dangerous public health problem. Here we reported that UCHL1 negatively affects muscle growth during aging as well as the regeneration process following IR injury. First, we observed that UCHL1 knockdown in C2C12 myoblasts resulted in increased …
Myokine Probdnf-P75ntr Signaling In Skeletal Muscle Injury And Sterile Inflammation, Katherine Aby
Myokine Probdnf-P75ntr Signaling In Skeletal Muscle Injury And Sterile Inflammation, Katherine Aby
Dissertations and Theses
Originally discovered in the brain, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been shown to be expressed and released from skeletal muscle as a myokine. However, the function of myokine BDNF is not fully understood. Of interest to this study is the function of the BDNF precursor proBDNF in skeletal muscle. We first show that skeletal muscle expresses unique BDNF splice variants compared to the brain, and at the protein level, skeletal muscle expresses significantly more proBDNF than mature BDNF under basal conditions. Consistent with this, expression of major protein convertases in skeletal muscle were significantly lower. The role of myokine proBDNF …
Investigating Telomere Lengths In Chestnut-Crowned Babblers, Gabriella Rose Beberg
Investigating Telomere Lengths In Chestnut-Crowned Babblers, Gabriella Rose Beberg
Honors Thesis
Telomeres are chromosomal elements that protect and maintain genes as DNA replicates in many organisms. As individuals age and DNA replicates, telomeres often shorten; thus, telomere length often corresponds with an individual’s lifespan, and early-life decreases in telomere length can be predictive of longevity. Here, I investigated the relationship between telomere length and developmental environment in a cooperatively breeding species, the chestnut-crowned babbler (Pomatostomus ruficeps; CCB). Cooperative species are unique, as some individuals give up their own breeding opportunities to help rear the offspring of others; further, cooperative breeding systems generate considerably more variation in adult carers, which …
Impacts Of Environmental Stressors On Native South Dakota Amphibian Physiology And Survival, Danielle Jean Galvin
Impacts Of Environmental Stressors On Native South Dakota Amphibian Physiology And Survival, Danielle Jean Galvin
Dissertations and Theses
Amphibian populations around the world are declining, with some of the most likely drivers behind these declines including emerging infectious diseases and environmental contaminants. To address major gaps in the current literature, I sought to evaluate the effect of two major environmental stressors on various aspects of amphibian physiology: emerging infectious diseases and environmental contaminants. Emerging infectious diseases of amphibians include fungal, viral, and parasitic pathogens which have expanded in host range, either geographically or in competent host species. Environmental contaminants include chemicals which may be naturally occurring in the environment, or which may be introduced to the environment, often …
Using Μct Scans To Create 3d Skull Puzzles As Open-Access Pedagogical Tools For Anatomy And Comparative Osteology Classes., Alexis Slack
Using Μct Scans To Create 3d Skull Puzzles As Open-Access Pedagogical Tools For Anatomy And Comparative Osteology Classes., Alexis Slack
Honors Thesis
As access to affordable 3D printing technologies increases, the use of Computed Tomography (CT) technologies is well positioned to contribute to the advancement of pedagogical experiences through the creation of physical models for teaching. Such complementary efforts may enhance broader impacts by simultaneously boosting the education system with a unique hands-on experience for students and providing an alternative to expensive osteological and other artificial models. Two 3D printed skull puzzles were created to aid in teaching human and vertebrate anatomy, and comparative osteology courses. After segmenting all the bones from each respective skull, the individual skeletal elements were 3D printed, …
Measuring Selenoprotein Content In False Map Turtles (Graptemys Pseudogeographica) Along The Missouri River, Ruby A. Hawks
Measuring Selenoprotein Content In False Map Turtles (Graptemys Pseudogeographica) Along The Missouri River, Ruby A. Hawks
Honors Thesis
Metals and metalloids are becoming more prevalent in lakes and reservoirs of South Dakota which are toxic and hazardous in high concentrations or when biomagnified through trophic levels. Selenium is of particular concern as it can bind into the structures of proteins in place of other elements, changing protein structure and function within affected organisms. Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are an invasive filter-feeding metal-bioaccumulating species that are rapidly spreading upstream through the Missouri River. They can take up selenium and directly transfer it to higher trophic level taxa. False map turtles (Graptemys pseudogeographica) are a common …
How Phylogeny And Arboreality Affect Pelvic Girdle Anatomy Of Chameleons, Dakota J. John
How Phylogeny And Arboreality Affect Pelvic Girdle Anatomy Of Chameleons, Dakota J. John
Honors Thesis
Morphological adaptations have allowed animals to inhabit different landscapes such as mountains, forests, plains, etc. These adaptations have increase in prevalence through natural selection processes in all species which allow favorable traits to be passed to offspring. Chameleons have evolved a plethora of adaptations that have allowed them to persist in different niches. One anatomical feature of chameleons that has not been well studied is the pelvic girdle. The pelvic girdle bridges the axial and appendicular skeletons in animals, so the size, shape, and orientation of the girdle is important to how the animal functions in its environment. The pelvic …
Ecological And Evolutionary Drivers Of Chameleon Forelimb Variation, Ellie M. Schley
Ecological And Evolutionary Drivers Of Chameleon Forelimb Variation, Ellie M. Schley
Honors Thesis
Skeletal anatomy can vary greatly among individuals of the same family that share a common ancestor. Differences in skeletal anatomy and morphology allow species to be better suited to their environments. The study of skeletal anatomy variation as it pertains to species relatedness and habitat variation can provide useful insight into what may be driving evolutionary patterns among species. Specifically, studying skeletal anatomy of the forelimb could allow for better understanding of how the forelimb anatomy differs based on the arboreality of the species, which allows for better understanding of how habitat can affect morphology. To study the skeletal structure …
Disease Prevalence And Selenium Bioaccumulation In Northern Leopard Frogs (Lithobates Pipiens), Emily B. Eisenbraun
Disease Prevalence And Selenium Bioaccumulation In Northern Leopard Frogs (Lithobates Pipiens), Emily B. Eisenbraun
Honors Thesis
Most amphibians are becoming imperiled in today’s world via environmental contamination and emerging infectious diseases. This project's main objective was to determine the relationship between the prevalence of Ranavirus and selenium bioaccumulation in amphibians in South Dakota. I selected northern leopard frogs (Lithobates pipiens) to focus on specifically because they are susceptible to Ranavirus and are found ubiquitously throughout eastern South Dakota wetlands. The secondary objective of this project was to determine if disease prevalence was correlated with areas of agricultural runoff in South Dakota’s prairie pothole wetlands. Intensive field sampling was conducted across five wetlands in Eastern South Dakota …
The Relationship Between Cerebrovascular Impairment And Behavioral Abnormalities In Rats Exposed To Alcohol In Utero, Tiffany M. Knecht
The Relationship Between Cerebrovascular Impairment And Behavioral Abnormalities In Rats Exposed To Alcohol In Utero, Tiffany M. Knecht
Honors Thesis
Maternal consumption of alcohol during pregnancy can result in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), which describes a range of developmental disorders. The goal of this study was to examine the association between impaired cerebrovascular function and behavioral abnormalities associated with FASD. We fed Sprague-Dawley dams a liquid diet with or without alcohol (3% ethanol) for the duration of their pregnancy. We then performed short-term memory and motor coordination assessments on the offspring during adolescence or adulthood. Next, we examined cerebral arteriole reactivity to the vasodilators nitroglycerin, adenosine diphosphate, N-methyl-D-aspartate, and iloprost. We found impairment in eNOS-, nNOS-, and K-channel-dependent dilation …
Mitochondrial Roles In Developmentally Programmed Heart Disease, Eli John Louwagie
Mitochondrial Roles In Developmentally Programmed Heart Disease, Eli John Louwagie
Dissertations and Theses
Offspring of diabetic and obese mothers (ODOM) have greater risks of heart disease at birth and later in life. However, prevention is hindered because underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Mounting studies in the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease field suggest that mitochondria play key roles in developmentally programmed heart disease similar to the roles they play in cardiomyopathy in adults with diabetes and obesity. However, whether mitochondria are responsible for the short[1]and long-term cardiac disease seen in ODOM remains unknown. Here, we sought to delineate the roles of mitochondria in the hearts of ODOM, determine whether mitochondria are playing …
Unraveling The Regulatory Basis Of The Desiccation Tolerance Trait In Selaginella Lepidophylla, Madhavi Anuradha Ariyarathne Hewa Babarandhage
Unraveling The Regulatory Basis Of The Desiccation Tolerance Trait In Selaginella Lepidophylla, Madhavi Anuradha Ariyarathne Hewa Babarandhage
Dissertations and Theses
Desiccation tolerance was a crucial adaptation for plants during their transition to terrestrial environments. Some spike mosses, including S. lepidophylla, have evolved the remarkable ability to tolerate extreme desiccation, enabling survival in arid regions of the world. However, the regulatory basis of this trait remains unknown. This dissertation aims to unravel the genetic basis of desiccation tolerance in Selaginella lepidophylla and its potential for improving crop abiotic stress tolerance. To achieve this goal, three objectives were pursued. Objective 1 focused on determining the regulatory role of the SlbHLH transcription factor (TF) by overexpressing it in Arabidopsis thaliana to assess its …
Monitoring Movement And Range Expansion Of Silver And Bighead Carp (Hypophthalmichthys Molitrix, H. Nobilis) In South Dakota Tributaries Of The Missouri River, Lindsey Ann Pearl Labrie
Monitoring Movement And Range Expansion Of Silver And Bighead Carp (Hypophthalmichthys Molitrix, H. Nobilis) In South Dakota Tributaries Of The Missouri River, Lindsey Ann Pearl Labrie
Dissertations and Theses
Invasive species, climate change, human impacts on the landscape, flooding, and drought are all dynamic factors that greatly impact the Missouri River and its tributaries in eastern South Dakota. Invasive Carp, and more specifically, Bighead (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and Silver Carp (H. molitrix), first invaded the Missouri River watershed in eastern South Dakota in the late 1990s and have since spread throughout the basin downstream of Gavin’s Point Dam. The first chapter of this study uses environmental DNA (eDNA) in the context of two major barriers to fish movement in the Vermillion and Big Sioux Rivers to determine potential presence and …
Application Of Hierarchical Species Distribution Models To Avian Species Of South Dakota And The Upper Missouri River Basin, Reza Goljani Amirkhiz
Application Of Hierarchical Species Distribution Models To Avian Species Of South Dakota And The Upper Missouri River Basin, Reza Goljani Amirkhiz
Dissertations and Theses
Recognizing the distributional patterns of species can inform management actions and increase scientific knowledge about species. Habitat Suitability Models (HSMs) are valuable tools in modeling species’ niches and effects of climate change and anthropogenic and natural disturbances on species’ distributions and abundances. In this dissertation, I expanded the application of hierarchical HSMs for a rare bird (Virginia’s warbler) and an economically valuable bird (ring-necked pheasant) in South Dakota. Also, we developed multiscale HSMs for grassland birds in the Upper Missouri River Basin (UMRB) to quantify current habitat associations and predict the influences of climate and landcover change associated with the …
Of Transcription Factor And Transformation: Elucidating Gene Function In The Common Ice Plant, Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum, Chinenye Lilian Izuegbunam
Of Transcription Factor And Transformation: Elucidating Gene Function In The Common Ice Plant, Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum, Chinenye Lilian Izuegbunam
Dissertations and Theses
Abiotic stresses negatively affect plant growth and development across the globe, which also affect the production of food, feed, biofuel, and fiber to meet the demands of a growing population. Thus, developing novel strategies to increase abiotic stress tolerance in crops is necessary. One of these strategies is exploring transcription factors (TFs) in Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) plants to improve plant abiotic stress tolerances. Therefore, the first objective of this dissertation determine the abiotic stress tolerance function of a CAM TF, McHB7opt in Arabidopsis. This study found that McHB7opt increased stress-responsive pathways related to seed germination and early seedling development. …
The Effects Of Anthropogenic Modification To The Landscape On Turtle Distribution And Health In South Dakota, Anna C. Kase
The Effects Of Anthropogenic Modification To The Landscape On Turtle Distribution And Health In South Dakota, Anna C. Kase
Dissertations and Theses
The Missouri River is a dynamic ecosystem that has been affected by anthropogenic modification and activity. The implementation of mainstem dams, reservoir formation, pollution, and non-native species invasions have greatly impacted this habitat and its constituents, particularly the false map turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica). False map turtles are listed as a state threatened species in South Dakota and a focused large-scale assessment of their distribution and health has not been conducted since the 1960s. To address the gap in knowledge of how anthropogenic modifications to the Missouri River have impacted false map turtle distributions and health, the effect of a common …
Documenting Range Expansion Of Two Invasive Tick (Acari:Ixodidae) Species In Eastern South Dakota, Braden Wojahn
Documenting Range Expansion Of Two Invasive Tick (Acari:Ixodidae) Species In Eastern South Dakota, Braden Wojahn
Dissertations and Theses
This project documents the expanded zoogeographic ranges of the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) within eastern South Dakota. Ticks are important when considering a “One Health” approach, as many species are competent vectors of zoonotic pathogens causing human diseases and conditions such as Lyme disease, tularemia, rickettsia, and alpha gal syndrome. The research involved constitutes two steps. First, tick surveillance was conducted in eastern counties of South Dakota, spanning March 2021 through August 2022. Surveillance took place along edge habitat at recreation areas, state and public parks, wildlife management areas and refuges, and other natural …
Cop9 Signalosome Promotes Neointimal Hyperplasia Via Deneddyaltion And Csn5-Mediated Nuclear Export, Samiksha Giri
Cop9 Signalosome Promotes Neointimal Hyperplasia Via Deneddyaltion And Csn5-Mediated Nuclear Export, Samiksha Giri
Dissertations and Theses
Neointimal hyperplasia (NH) is a common pathological response to vascular injury and mediated primarily by vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) migration and proliferation. The COP9 signalosome (CSN) is formed by 8 canonical subunits (CSN1 through CSN8) with its deneddylation activity residing in CSN5. Each or some of CSN subunits may have deneddylation-independent function but this is not well established. Despite the CSN being known to be a key regulator of protein degradation, its role in vascular biology remains obscure. The present study was conducted to fill these critical gaps.Our immunohistochemistry analyses revealed substantially higher CSN5 levels in the neointimal VSMCs …
Ser14-Rpn6 Phosphorylation Mediates The Activation Of 26s Proteasomes By Cyclic Amp And Protects Against Cardiac Proteotoxic Stress In Mice, Liuqing Yang
Dissertations and Theses
A better understanding of how proteasome activity is regulated can facilitate the search for proteasome enhancement strategies for disease treatment. A cell culture study shows cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) activates 26S proteasomes by phosphorylating Ser14 of RPN6 (pS14-RPN6), but this discovery and its physiological significance remain to be established in vivo. To test the hypothesis that pS14-RPN6 mediates the activation of proteasomes by PKA and reduces proteotoxicity in animals, two knock-in mouse models with Ser14 of endogenous Rpn6 mutated to either Ala (S14A) or Asp (S14D) to respectively block or mimic pS14-Rpn6 were created. In a PKA-dependent manner, cAMP augmentation …
Factors Influencing Hard Running Distances In Ncaa Division I Female Soccer Players, Isaac A. Sam
Factors Influencing Hard Running Distances In Ncaa Division I Female Soccer Players, Isaac A. Sam
Dissertations and Theses
As the total distances covered in soccer games have remained relatively constant, the hard running distances covered by players have shown varying changes due to the higher physical demands and dynamics of team running performances. Although factors affecting the total distances covered in a match are multifactorial, no study has specifically examined match performance indicators (MPI) that impact hard running distances (HRD). Consequently, the purpose of this study was to better understand how MPI (hard running efforts, turnovers, minutes played, duels won, duels lost, and pass completions) are associated with HRDs and to investigate how each variable contributes to HRDs …
Molecular Investigation Of Minor Genomic Populations And Biological Exposures In Human Health, Brandon Ned Johnson
Molecular Investigation Of Minor Genomic Populations And Biological Exposures In Human Health, Brandon Ned Johnson
Dissertations and Theses
The study of genetics has contributed to countless discoveries related to human health and disease. However, the complexities of human biology reside not only in the genome but also in the contributions from environmental exposures, as measured via the classical twin design. To understand the influence of biological exposures, I implemented study designs to explore both the health associations and propagation of foreign genetic material. Microchimerism has been studied for association with several clinical conditions, and I further investigated if male microchimerism could elucidate the etiology of Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome. Prevalence of male microchimerism in women with no history of pregnancy …
Cognitive Task Enhancement Through Alpha Neurofeedback, Hannah L. Meyer, Douglas Peterson
Cognitive Task Enhancement Through Alpha Neurofeedback, Hannah L. Meyer, Douglas Peterson
Honors Thesis
Neurofeedback training has been a recent field of study in neuroscience, as a potential way to increase focus, and possibly boost cognitive performance. Most studies utilize a course of neurofeedback training sessions to find positive results in decreasing ADHD symptoms, depression symptoms, as well as further cognitive changes. In this study, we aim to determine the efficacy of a single session of neurofeedback training in increasing cognitive performance. To do so, we randomly separated 42 volunteers into either a control or experimental group. The experimental group participated in an n-back task both before and after an alpha neurofeedback training session, …
Trophish: Building A Global Database Of Freshwater Trophic Interactions, Jacob M. Ridgway
Trophish: Building A Global Database Of Freshwater Trophic Interactions, Jacob M. Ridgway
Honors Thesis
Freshwater management and research frequently use the trophic data of freshwater fishes. Despite this fact, it is difficult to perform a simple search of dietary information for any one fish species. FishBase represents, to our knowledge, the largest compilation of freshwater dietary information to date. However, it excludes a large portion of the ecological literature due to its development taking place prior to the creation of most modern scientific search engines. Our project (TroPhish) is building upon FishBase by digitizing approximately 130 years of data from the fish predation literature. Data from the primary and grey (e.g. theses, dissertations, reports) …
The Impact Of Sleep On Athletic Performance: A Review Of The Literature, Rylan J. Pratt
The Impact Of Sleep On Athletic Performance: A Review Of The Literature, Rylan J. Pratt
Honors Thesis
This paper reviewed the literature regarding sleep and athletic performance, specifically identifying the problem of sleep debt in student athletes, the effects of sleep debt, and what factors negatively influence sleep, along with how to improve sleep. The literature revealed that it is common for athletes to not get adequate sleep. Sleep debt can have psychomotor and physiological effects on the body, which decreases optimal athletic performance. The many factors that negatively impact sleep include high intensity training sessions, travel, sleep disturbances, caffeine and/or alcohol consumption, and pre-competition anxiety. Recommendations for athletes that are struggling to achieve adequate sleep include, …
Study Of Adaptive Radiation Effects On Sprint Performance In Anolis Ecomorphs, Alexander J. Bergeson
Study Of Adaptive Radiation Effects On Sprint Performance In Anolis Ecomorphs, Alexander J. Bergeson
Honors Thesis
Anolis lizards have become model organisms for the study of adaptive radiation and convergent evolution due to repeated patterns of specialization that allow them to live in different environmental niches within the habitats they occur. As part of a suite of adaptations for living in specific habitats, many species have repeatedly evolved specific changes in anatomy and physiology that make them better able to perform and survive in their surroundings. These specialized forms are referred to as “ecomorphs” based on their preferred habitats and have been well documented among Caribbean anoles. Mainland species, on the other hand, are less studied. …
Tick Surveillance And Pathogen Detection In Eastern South Dakota, Holly E. Black
Tick Surveillance And Pathogen Detection In Eastern South Dakota, Holly E. Black
Honors Thesis
Tick-borne diseases threaten the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems, but surveillance efforts are lacking in some regions. Throughout 2019, 2020, and 2021, we conducted tick surveys aimed at determining the status of the black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis), the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) and the lone star tick (Amblyoma americanum) in eastern South Dakota. Each year, ticks were collected using a flagging method and identified in the lab. A subset were tested for the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Dermacentor variabilis was the most commonly identified tick, …