Journal of Bacteriology & Parasitology

Parasite infection in wild northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) in Texas

4^th International Conference on Parasitology

September 01-02, 2017 | Prague, Czech Republic

Ronald J Kendall

Texas Tech University, USA

Keynote: J Bacteriol Parasitol

Abstract:

An extremely important game bird in Texas is the northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) and one of the last major locations left in the United States that supports huntable wild quail populations is the Rolling Plains ecoregion. Although wild quail have generally declined over the last several decades in the Rolling Plains, upticks in population numbers are usually followed by serious population crashes. The last quail population crash occurred in 2010, which set the stage for a large interdisciplinary research program to consider, in addition to habitat and rainfall issues, investigation of environmental contaminants, disease, and parasites. The Wildlife Toxicology Laboratory at Texas Tech University has documented extensive parasitic infection in wild quail throughout the Rolling Plains with both the eye worm (Oxyspirura petrowi) and cecal worm (Aulonocephalus pennula). Based on environmental conditions, parasitic infections can spread quickly at the landscape level infecting a large percentage of the wild quail that may utilize such zones for habitat. We now have information to document pathology and other impacts of parasitic infections in wild quail. This talk will discuss the research program that led to the discovery of widespread and cyclic parasitic infections in wild Northern bobwhite quail and the consequences of this infection to quail. In addition, the talk will discuss strategies in going forward that might address a remedy in order that wild and huntable quail populations can be sustained into the future.

Biography :

Ronald J Kendall is Head of the Wildlife Toxicology Laboratory and Professor of Environmental Toxicology in the Department of Environmental Toxicology at Texas Tech University. He is founding Director of The Institute of Environmental and Human Health (TIEHH), a joint venture between Texas Tech University and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at Lubbock, Texas. He was also the founding Department Chair of the Department of Environmental Toxicology at Texas Tech. He received his BS degree from the University of South Carolina, MS degree from Clemson University, and PhD from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He received a United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Post-doctoral traineeship at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He served on USEPA’s FIFRA Science Advisory Panel from June 1995 to December 2002, and was appointed as Chairman from January 1999 to December 2002. He also served as a member of the Endocrine Disruptor Screening and Testing Advisory Committee, USEPA. He is the previous president of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.