Small Mammals as reservoir hosts for the novel vector-borne pathogen Babesia odocoilei
Pennell, Aidy
Pennell, Aidy
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Abstract
In recent years, concern has risen over vector-borne diseases, especially in the northeastern US. Babesiosis, typically caused by Babesia microti, was recently found to also be caused by Babesia odocoilei. We don't know if small mammals serve as reservoirs for B. odocoilei as they do for other tick-borne pathogens. Small mammal tissue samples were obtained from specimens in the Thompson Zoological Collections at UVM. The samples were screened for B. odococoilei using PCR. Findings are currently inconclusive as the project is ongoing. We must gain a better understanding of this pathogen in order to curb the spread of Babesiosis.
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Undergraduate
Date
2024-01-01