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Juvenile Crawfish (Procambarus Clarkii) Lc50 Mortality From South Louisiana Crude, Peanut And Mineral Oil, Okey Umejuru Jan 2007

Juvenile Crawfish (Procambarus Clarkii) Lc50 Mortality From South Louisiana Crude, Peanut And Mineral Oil, Okey Umejuru

LSU Master's Theses

Nearly every continent has species of crawfish that inhabit wetlands or are near coastal areas where petroleum and other oils are produced, transported, and accidentally released. Most crawfish cannot tolerate polluted water. Thus, they could serve as biomonitors of fossil fuel, biofuel, and other oil releases and assess potential negative impacts such oils have on wetland and coastal ecosystems. The objectives of this study were to estimate the acute toxicity of three oils to juvenile crawfish and determine if toxicity was due to poisoning or interference with oxygen transfer across the gills. Juvenile crawfish (Procambarus clarkii) were tested for acute …


Receptor-Mediated Calcium Entry In Retinal Amacrine Cells, Scott Michael Crousillac Jan 2007

Receptor-Mediated Calcium Entry In Retinal Amacrine Cells, Scott Michael Crousillac

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In the vertebrate retina, multiple cell types express g protein-coupled receptors linked to phospholipase C. The signaling pathway engendered by activation of this enzyme can involve Ca2+-permeable transient receptor potential (TRP) channels. To begin to understand the role of these channels in the retina, we undertake an immunocytochemical localization of two TRPC channel subunits, TRPC1 and TRPC4. TRPC1 expression was observed in amacrine cells and their process in the chicken retina. TRPC4 expression was much more widespread with some degree of labeling found in all layers of the retina, and was shown to be expressed in Müller glial …


Comparing Kin And Non-Kin Foster Parents' Emotional Investment In Their Young Children, Rhonda Norwood Jan 2007

Comparing Kin And Non-Kin Foster Parents' Emotional Investment In Their Young Children, Rhonda Norwood

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In 2003, there were reports of child maltreatment affecting over 5.5 million children in the United States. As a result of this epidemic, over 500,000 children are in foster care with an estimated additional 300,000 in voluntary kin placements. Because of a shortage of foster families and resources, Child Protective Services (CPS) agencies routinely seek and give priority to family members to serve as foster families to maltreated children. There is a large body of research that demonstrates that children in kinship care are often at greater risk than those children placed in non-kin foster homes, particularly in terms of …


"Yes They're Out There": A Qualitative Study On Strong African American Marriages, Katrina D. Hopkins-Williams Jan 2007

"Yes They're Out There": A Qualitative Study On Strong African American Marriages, Katrina D. Hopkins-Williams

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Much of the research that exists on Black marriage is usually from a deficit perspective and focuses on the decline of marriages among Black Americans. Even so, many Black families are marriage based and it is unfortunate that little research exists that focuses on understanding these families from a strength-based approach. It is important that we learn what constitutes the characteristics of strong Black marriages and families and learn how Black U.S. families differ from and are similar to Euro U.S. families. This study looked at the hows, whys, and processes of enduring and sustaining marriages in Black families. Black …


Summer Fallow And In-Crop Weed Management Programs In Sugarcane (Saccharum Spp. Hybrids): Control Of Perennial Weeds And Purple Nutsedge (Cyperus Rotundus L.) Interference, Luke Moss Etheredge, Jr. Jan 2007

Summer Fallow And In-Crop Weed Management Programs In Sugarcane (Saccharum Spp. Hybrids): Control Of Perennial Weeds And Purple Nutsedge (Cyperus Rotundus L.) Interference, Luke Moss Etheredge, Jr.

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In fallowed sugarcane fields, perennial weeds and sugarcane regrowth must be controlled to maximize productivity of sugarcane in the first production year. Isopropylamine salt of glyphosate applied in April at 1.68 kg ai/ha to 15 cm sugarcane provided 85% control 28 d after treatment (DAT). Control of sugarcane 56 DAT with isopropylamine and potassium salt formulations of glyphosate averaged 83% for 1.12 kg/ha. Bermudagrass control with glyphosate at 1.12 kg/ha was 86% 40 DAT and increased to 98% with a sequential application at 1.12 kg/ha. In comparing various combinations of tillage and glyphosate in summer fallow programs, bermudagrass ground cover …


Vascular Function, Physical Performance And Aging, Devon Dobrosielski Jan 2007

Vascular Function, Physical Performance And Aging, Devon Dobrosielski

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This is a series of three experiments with brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (BAFMD) as the major outcome variable. The first study examined the temporal response of the brachial artery diameter following forearm occlusion in sixteen young (28±8 years) and fifteen older (85±8 years) men. Following release of the pressure cuff there is a significant reduction in brachial diameter compared to baseline, followed by a rapid increase to a PEAK. When comparing the magnitude of the decrease in diameter and the BAFMD between Young and Old, older subjects demonstrated a blunted response. A significant relation was noted between the magnitude of …


Paleoceanography Of The Gulf Of Papua Using Multiple Geophysical And Micropaleontological Proxies, Lawrence A. Febo Jan 2007

Paleoceanography Of The Gulf Of Papua Using Multiple Geophysical And Micropaleontological Proxies, Lawrence A. Febo

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Recent marine and late Pleistocene sediments examined from the Gulf of Papua (GoP), Papua New Guinea investigate the flux and fate of detrital sediments and organic carbon over the last glacial-interglacial cycle. Based on surface sediment magnetic susceptibility (MS) and calcium carbonate concentrations, recent marine sediment is exported off the narrow shelf and into deeper regions via the Kerema Canyon of the northern Pandora Trough. Detrital clastic sediment is then dispersed deeper into the central and southern Pandora Trough. Except for pelagic deposition, very little detrital material reaches the Ashmore Trough and Eastern Plateau adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef. …


Dna-Binding And Oligomerization Properties Of A Functionally Distinct Dps Homolog, Dps-1 From Deinococcus Radiodurans, Gargi Bhattacharyya Jan 2007

Dna-Binding And Oligomerization Properties Of A Functionally Distinct Dps Homolog, Dps-1 From Deinococcus Radiodurans, Gargi Bhattacharyya

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Dps (DNA protection during starvation) proteins play an important role in the protection of prokaryotic macromolecules from damage by reactive oxygen species. The Dps homolog, Dps-1, from the radiation-resistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans has an extended N-terminal tail. In the crystal structure of Dps-1, the first ~30 N-terminal residues are invisible and the remaining 25 residues form a loop that harbors a novel metal binding site. The data presented here show that retention of this N-terminal metal site is necessary for formation of the dodecameric protein assembly. Previous studies have suggested that the lysine-rich N-terminus of Dps proteins participates in DNA …


A Horticultural Study Of Liriope And Ophiopogon: Nomenclature, Morphology, And Culture, Mary Catherine Broussard Jan 2007

A Horticultural Study Of Liriope And Ophiopogon: Nomenclature, Morphology, And Culture, Mary Catherine Broussard

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Liriopogons are evergreen perennials with a confusing taxonomy. New cultivars are being rapidly selected and named. The landscape industry uses them extensively and they are being planted in improper sites. Morphological studies were done at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to identify cultivars by comparing plants to botanical keys. Cultural studies were done at Burden Station in Baton Rouge, Louisiana by comparing cultivars in sun and 63% shade, and by greenhouse fertilization experiments, and pruning experiments. Plants were harvested, studied, dried and mounted in the Louisiana State University Herbarium as permanent record. Of the 19 cultivars of Liriope …


The Effects Of Recq, Uvrd, And Recd Mutants Of Deinococcus Radiodurans On Resistance To Dna Damaging Agents, Stephannie Gauthier Ruiz Jan 2007

The Effects Of Recq, Uvrd, And Recd Mutants Of Deinococcus Radiodurans On Resistance To Dna Damaging Agents, Stephannie Gauthier Ruiz

LSU Master's Theses

The genes encoding the putative nuclease RecD and the helicase RecQ were deleted from Deinococcus radiodurans R1 and replaced with constructs conferring hygromycin or spectinomycin resistance. The ÄrecD and ÄrecQ strains were found to be similar to wild type R1 strain in resistance to gamma irradiation. In contrast to the single mutant strains, the ÄuvrD, ÄrecQ double mutant was found to be extremely radiation sensitive, indicating that these proteins share a complementary activity needed for radioresistance. ÄrecD mutants have higher transformation efficiencies than the wild type R1 strains, suggesting an association of RecD with nucleases that degrade single stranded DNA. …


Effects Of Predator Activity On The Nesting Of American Black Ducks And Other Birds On Barrier Islands In The Mid-Atlantic Coast, Brian Joseph Arquilla Jan 2007

Effects Of Predator Activity On The Nesting Of American Black Ducks And Other Birds On Barrier Islands In The Mid-Atlantic Coast, Brian Joseph Arquilla

LSU Master's Theses

Landscape change throughout North America has resulted in heightened nest predator population and declining avian productivity. Essential to establishing effective management design is an understanding of differential predation pressure among avian groups as group specific responses to predation impact may exist. The objective of this study was to examine the efficacy of predator trapping on the nest success and density of ground nesting avifauna in 2004-2005 in the Virginia Coast Reserve, specifically dabbling ducks, Canada Goose and Willet. Second, we determine the impact of predation on ground nesting birds by relating indices of predator abundance to nest density and nest …


In Utero And In Vitro Sex Ratio Of Bovine Embryos And Calves Originating From The Left And Right Ovaries, Darin Alan Hylan Jan 2007

In Utero And In Vitro Sex Ratio Of Bovine Embryos And Calves Originating From The Left And Right Ovaries, Darin Alan Hylan

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

An asymmetric distribution of the sexes within the left and right uterine horns has been described in multiple polytocous, laboratory species. A series of experiments were conducted to evaluate the sex ratio (% male) of calves gestated in the left and right uterine horns, as well as the sex ratio of embryos originating from the left and right ovaries of cattle. In Experiment 1, the sex ratio of calves and fetuses gestated in the left and right uterine horns was investigated. The sex ratio of calves and fetuses gestated in the right uterine horn was significantly higher compared with the …


Direct White Sugar Production: Optimization And Chemical Regeneration Of Fixed-Bed Activated Carbon Adsorbers, Raul Alejandro Cortes Jan 2007

Direct White Sugar Production: Optimization And Chemical Regeneration Of Fixed-Bed Activated Carbon Adsorbers, Raul Alejandro Cortes

LSU Master's Theses

A system for the direct production of white sugar from clarified sugar cane juice in a raw sugar factory has been developed at the Audubon Sugar Institute. This Direct White Sugar Production (DWiSP) system employs a series of columns packed with adsorbent media. Activated carbon is used in the first column(s) as a filter and bulk decolorizer. Ion exchange resins are then used to remove ash and remaining color. Batch testing was performed in order to determine equilibrium parameters. An analytical model was utilized in conjunction with column loading tests to determine dynamic characteristics of the carbon adsorber for use …


The Influence Of Morningglory (Ipomoea Lacunosa), Hemp Sesbania (Sesbania Exaltata), And Johnsongrass (Sorghum Halepense) On Reproduction Of Rotylenchulus Reniformis On Cotton Gossypium Hirsutum L. And Soybean Glycine Max. (L.) Merrill, Michael John Pontif Jan 2007

The Influence Of Morningglory (Ipomoea Lacunosa), Hemp Sesbania (Sesbania Exaltata), And Johnsongrass (Sorghum Halepense) On Reproduction Of Rotylenchulus Reniformis On Cotton Gossypium Hirsutum L. And Soybean Glycine Max. (L.) Merrill, Michael John Pontif

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Microplot studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of cotton (LA. 887), soybean (Pioneer 96B21), and three endemic weed species, pitted morningglory (Ipomoea lacunosa), hemp sesbania (Sesbania exaltata), and johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense), on reproduction of the reniform nematode, (Rotylenchulus reniformis). Over two microplot trials the co-culture of cotton with any of the three weeds suppressed numbers of reniform nematode juveniles in soil. When grown singly, reniform nematode reproductive values after 60 days on cotton averaged 69.0, while those for morningglory, hemp sesbania, and johnsongrass averaged 42.0, 23.5, and 18.0, respectively. Reproductive values for cotton co-cultured with morningglory averaged 38.7. Those …


Cryopreservation Of White-Tail Deer Epididymal Sperm For Artificial Insemination, Jesse Ray Saenz Jan 2007

Cryopreservation Of White-Tail Deer Epididymal Sperm For Artificial Insemination, Jesse Ray Saenz

LSU Master's Theses

The ability to cryopreserve epididymal sperm from mature postmortem bucks has long been of interest to both wildlife conservationists and deer ranchers. Increased understanding of the cryobiology of epididymal sperm from a non domestic species, such as White-tail deer, could aid in development of future protocols to assist in the preservation of endangered species. In Experiment I, results showed that after cooling postmortem bull testes for 22 hours, no significant difference was noted between sperm parameters of epididymal sperm collected at room temperature or at a cool enviorment. In Experiment II, it was shown that White-tail deer sperm could be …


The Influence Of Enrollment In Agriscience Education Courses On Student Achievement Of High School Students In Louisiana, Paul Joseph Theriot Jan 2007

The Influence Of Enrollment In Agriscience Education Courses On Student Achievement Of High School Students In Louisiana, Paul Joseph Theriot

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare academic achievement of high school students in Louisiana by whether or not they are identified as an agriscience education student. The rationale for the study is to determine if agriscience education contributes to the academic achievement of high school students. The Louisiana Educational Assessment Program (LEAP) Graduate Exit Exams were used to measure academic achievement. All graduate exit exam test scores for the 2004-2005 school year were utilized for the study. The data for this study came from the Louisiana Department of Education. The study described all 10th and 11th grade students …


Analysis Of The Impact Of Fish Imports On Domestic Crawfish Prices And Economic Welfare Using Inverse Demand Systems, Young-Jae Lee Jan 2007

Analysis Of The Impact Of Fish Imports On Domestic Crawfish Prices And Economic Welfare Using Inverse Demand Systems, Young-Jae Lee

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study is mainly intended to determine quantitatively the economic effects of crawfish imports on the domestic crawfish industry. Inverse demand systems are used to estimate the price and scale flexibility as an indicator for the effects of imports on crawfish domestic price. A variety of algebraic forms for empirical consumer allocation models have been developed. Economic theory, however, does not provide the necessary fundamental criteria to choose ex ante among the alternative specifications. Bartern (1993) and Brown, Lee, and Seale (1995) examined a family of inverse demand systems, showing that the integrated demand system, in its own right, has …


In Vitro Development Of Bovine Embryos Cultured In A Frozen-Thawed Commercial Culture Medium, Jeanne Lee Glaser Jan 2007

In Vitro Development Of Bovine Embryos Cultured In A Frozen-Thawed Commercial Culture Medium, Jeanne Lee Glaser

LSU Master's Theses

As in vitro fertilization (IVF) becomes more acceptable for the treatment of human infertility, it is essential for clinics to have in place an optimal embryo culture system. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether freezing and storing human embryo culture medium will alter embryo post-thaw viability. In consecutive experiments, commercial culture medium was frozen at -20°C and at -80°C and stored at 4°C until its use in IVF. Each IVF-derived replicate of bovine embryos contained a laboratory control group, a fresh commercial culture medium group(s) and a frozen-thawed commercial culture medium group(s). The commercial culture medium was …


Assessing Physical Function In Bilateral And Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients., Tiina Tuulia Garrison Jan 2007

Assessing Physical Function In Bilateral And Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients., Tiina Tuulia Garrison

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The general objective of this dissertation was to investigate physical function in osteoarthritis (OA) and total knee replacement (TKA) patients. First, a validation study was performed to evaluate the validity of the Continuous Scale Physical Functional Performance (CS-PFP10) test in knee OA awaiting TKA. The CS-PFP10 scores were compared to the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities OA Index (WOMAC), The Knee Society’s Clinical Rating System (KSS), and the Short Form 36-item health survey (SF-36) physical function scores. It was hypothesized that at least moderate associations between the CS-PFP10 test scores and the WOMAC, KSS, and SF-36 scores in TKA candidates …


An Hedonic Analysis Of Southwestern Louisiana Wetland Prices Using Gis, Baifu Xu Jan 2007

An Hedonic Analysis Of Southwestern Louisiana Wetland Prices Using Gis, Baifu Xu

LSU Master's Theses

Louisiana is the beneficiary of more than 30% of the U.S. coastal wetlands, but the state’s wetland loss accounts for about 90% of the total throughout the continental United States. The Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act of 1990 and the $1.9 billion that has recently been dedicated by Congress for coastal restoration activities will certainly aid in restoration efforts. However, these dedicated funds are but a small fraction of the total monies that will be required to maintain/restore Louisiana’s degraded wetlands. Recent estimates suggest restoration activities will cost, at a minimum, about $14 billion. The research, based on …


Role Of Heparanase And Heparanase-Degraded Heparan Sulfate In Brain-Metastatic Melanoma, Madhuchhanda Roy Jan 2007

Role Of Heparanase And Heparanase-Degraded Heparan Sulfate In Brain-Metastatic Melanoma, Madhuchhanda Roy

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Cancer metastasis is a frequent manifestation of malignant melanoma progression. Successful invasion into distant organs by tumor cells must include attachment to microvessel endothelial cells, and degradation of extracellular matrix. Heparan sulfate proteoglycans are ubiquitous macromolecules associated with cell surface and extracellular matrix of a wide range of cells and tissues. Heparanase is an extracellular matrix degradative enzyme which degrades the heparan sulfate chains of heparan sulfate proteoglycans. To investigate effects of changes in heparanase gene expression in metastatic melanoma cells, we constructed adenoviral vectors containing the full-length human heparanase cDNA in both sense (Ad-S/hep) and anti-sense orientations (Ad-AS/hep). We …


Alphabetic And Phonemic Awareness In Toddlers, Pamela A. Terrell Jan 2007

Alphabetic And Phonemic Awareness In Toddlers, Pamela A. Terrell

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The ability of 20-24 month-old toddlers to recognize graphemes and phonemes was investigated by reading a Phonic Faces (PF) alphabet picture book. Phonic Faces iconically picture a letter in the mouth of a character producing the sound (the curve of the P looks like the top lip popping the /p/ sound). The book was composed of nine letters and was read individually to experimental subjects three times weekly for six weeks. The control group received no treatment, but engaged in individual play activities for comparable time. Following six-weeks the groups alternated so the former control group now received the alphabet …


Histone-Like Protein From Mycobacterium Smegmatis Has Two Dna Binding Domains And Is Localized To The Nucleoid In Vivo, Anirban Mukherjee Jan 2007

Histone-Like Protein From Mycobacterium Smegmatis Has Two Dna Binding Domains And Is Localized To The Nucleoid In Vivo, Anirban Mukherjee

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Eubacteria encode numerous small basic histone-like proteins (such as HU, H-NS and Fis) that are required for nucleoid organization and for regulation of DNA-dependent processes. One of these histone-like proteins, HU from Escherichia coli has been shown to associate with the nucleoid and to regulate processes such as DNA repair and recombination. In contrast, the divergent HU homologs encoded by mycobacteria have been variously identified as involved in the physiology of dormancy, in the response to cold shock or as laminin binding proteins associated with the cell envelope. Using indirect fluorescent antibody microscopy, contrary to previous reports, it is shown …


Characterization Of Polyethylene Glycol Hydrogels For Biomedical Applications, Anushree Datta Jan 2007

Characterization Of Polyethylene Glycol Hydrogels For Biomedical Applications, Anushree Datta

LSU Master's Theses

Polyethylene glycol is one of the most widely used synthetic materials for biomedical applications. Its biocompatibility, flexibility, and 'stealth' properties make it ideal for use in drug delivery applications. The main objective of this paper is to characterize the structural and mass transfer properties of polyethylene glycol hydrogels for applications in drug delivery and biological immobilization. Swelling behavior of the gels was studied to determine the mesh size, and other significant structural parameters of the gel. For accurate design of drug delivery device, along with network design, mathematical modeling of release profiles was performed. The study of PEG hydrogels was …


Elementary Reactions Involved In Pollutant-Forming Mechanisms, Cheri Ann Mcferrin Jan 2007

Elementary Reactions Involved In Pollutant-Forming Mechanisms, Cheri Ann Mcferrin

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The reactions of the hydroxyl radical (OH) with molecular chlorine (Reaction 1), methane (Reaction 2), and propane (Reaction 3) have been studied experimentally using a pulsed laser photolysis/pulsed-laser-induced fluorescence technique over wide ranges of temperatures (297-826, 298-1009, and 296-908 K, respectively) and at pressures between 6.68 and 24.15 kPascals. The rate coefficients for these reactions exhibit no dependence on pressure and exhibit positive temperature dependences that can be represented with modified three-parameter Arrhenius expressions within their corresponding temperature ranges: k1 = 3.59 x 10-16T1.35exp(-745K/T)cm3molecule-1sec-1, k2 = 3.82 x 10-19T2.38 exp(-1136K/T)cm3molecule-1sec-1, and k3 = 6.64 x 10-16T1.46 exp(-271K/T)cm3molecule-1sec-1. For the OH …


A Comparison Of Social Skills Profiles In Intellectually Disabled Adults With And Without Asd, Jonathan Wilkins Jan 2007

A Comparison Of Social Skills Profiles In Intellectually Disabled Adults With And Without Asd, Jonathan Wilkins

LSU Master's Theses

Although there has been a recent increase in research directed toward autism spectrum disorders (ASD), the study of intellectually disabled adults with ASD has gone relatively neglected as efforts have focused largely on young children. Current diagnostic and assessment procedures were created for and validated on this latter group. Many intellectually disabled adults with ASD have not been diagnosed due to the novelty of such instruments and the overlap between symptoms of ASD and severe intellectual disability (ID). A new assessment instrument, the Autism Spectrum Disorders-Diagnostic Scale for Intellectually Disabled Adults (ASD-DA) has been shown to make this fine distinction. …


Evaluation Of Harvesting Disturbance And Establishment Practices On Early Height Growth Of Loblolly Pine (Pinus Taeda L.), Shanna Marie Mccarty Jan 2007

Evaluation Of Harvesting Disturbance And Establishment Practices On Early Height Growth Of Loblolly Pine (Pinus Taeda L.), Shanna Marie Mccarty

LSU Master's Theses

Land for forest plantations is declining while demand for forest products is increasing, creating concern over sustainable forest management. Maintenance of site productivity is fundamental to forest sustainability, and an assessment of cumulative height growth is a useful index of productivity. Loblolly pine height data were used from four research plantations installed by the project Cooperative Research in Sustainable Silviculture and Soil Productivity from Texas to Georgia. The sites vary in soil characteristics, management history, nutrient status at time of planting, and age (from 4 to 9 years). Each site is a randomized complete block design with a factorial treatment …


The Ecology Of Blacktail Redhorse Moxostoma Poecilurum In West Fork Thompson Creek, Louisiana, Jesse Adam Bahm Jan 2007

The Ecology Of Blacktail Redhorse Moxostoma Poecilurum In West Fork Thompson Creek, Louisiana, Jesse Adam Bahm

LSU Master's Theses

This study was designed to examine home range sizes and habitat use of blacktail redhorse Moxostoma poecilurum in West Fork Thompson Creek, Louisiana. Blacktail redhorse are a common non-game species found in Louisiana and other southeastern states. Adult blacktail redhorse (N=40; 187-273 mm total length) were implanted with radio transmitters and tracked twice weekly from February to September 2006 and from February to July 2007. To assess blacktail redhorse diet I analyzed 32 stomachs from fish collected by backpack electrofishing. I also conducted mark-recapture surveys of fish sampled monthly from May 2006 until July 2007. To assess homing ability in …


Detection Of West Nile Virus Activity In Male And Female Mosquitoes, And Evaluation Of Host-Utilization Patterns Of Mosquitoes, In East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, Andrew James Mackay Jan 2007

Detection Of West Nile Virus Activity In Male And Female Mosquitoes, And Evaluation Of Host-Utilization Patterns Of Mosquitoes, In East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, Andrew James Mackay

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

ABSTRACT Host utilization patterns of female mosquitoes, and WNV infection rates in male and female mosquitoes, were examined in East Baton Rouge Parish to identify potential vectors of West Nile virus (WNV). A total of 244,374 female mosquitoes were collected between November 2002 and October 2004 and tested by viral isolation. Additionally, 131,896 female mosquitoes were tested by VecTest in 2003, and 167,175 female mosquitoes were tested by RT-PCR in 2004. West Nile virus was isolated from 17 of 36 mosquito species assayed by virus isolation, WNV antigens were detected in 9 of 27 species tested by VecTest, and WNV …


Lymphohistiocytic Proliferative Syndrome Of Alligators (Alligator Mississippiensis): A Cutaneous Manifestation Of West Nile Virus, Javier G. Nevarez Jan 2007

Lymphohistiocytic Proliferative Syndrome Of Alligators (Alligator Mississippiensis): A Cutaneous Manifestation Of West Nile Virus, Javier G. Nevarez

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

ABSTRACT In 1999, there were reports of a new type of lesion in the hides of captive reared alligators from Florida. Similar lesions were first reported from alligator hides in Louisiana in 2001; however, it wasn’t until 2002 that small epizootics became apparent. In 2002, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries began a collaborative effort with the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine (LSU SVM) to help elucidate the etiology of “PIX” disease, later renamed Lymphohistiocytic Proliferative Syndrome of Alligators (LPSA). Preliminary work concluded that LPSA was a systemic disease affecting multiple tissues. Based on the results of …