Date: August 21, 2018 at 11:06:08 AM EDT
Subject: Deer parasite project
I am leading a research project at Penn State focused on
deer parasites, specifically ticks and deer keds (a type of fly),
which may transmit disease to deer and hunters. We’re recruiting deer hunters
to submit specimens they collect from deer and have free sampling kits
available for the first 500 who pre-order them. I would really appreciate it if
you could share the information below with your club membership, perhaps via
email or newsletter or even mentioning it at your next club meeting. I've also
attached a brochure we made for the project and more information is available
on the project website, PAParasiteHunters.com.
Best regards,
Michael Skvarla
Insect Identifier, Penn State University
Blacklegged ticks are perhaps the best-known
external parasite of deer in Pennsylvania as they aggressively bite people and
can transmit the pathogens that cause Lyme and other diseases. However, ticks
aren’t the only deer-associated parasites that bite humans. Deer keds, which
are a kind of parasitic fly, can be more abundant than ticks on individual deer
and are often confused with ticks due to their superficial resemblance.
Deer keds have historically been considered a
minor nuisance due to their bites but of no serious medical concern. However, a
number of recent studies have isolated various pathogens from keds using DNA
sequencing. It is not know yet whether the keds are simply picking the
pathogens up when they feed on infected hosts or whether they can actively
transmit the disease agents. As a result, the Penn State Insect Identification
Laboratory and the Penn State Veterinary Entomology Laboratory have teamed up
to develop a volunteer project to learn more about keds in Pennsylvania.
Hunters are requested to send in specimens of both ticks and keds collected
from harvested deer. Free parasite collection kits – which contain a louse comb
for combing through deer hair for ked specimens, vials with preservative, and
postage-paid return envelopes – are available to request through the project
website, www.PAParasiteHunters.com. Hunters without
such kits can collect keds and ticks into hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol and
send the specimens in liquid-tight containers (such as a pill vial) in ziplock
bags to the PSU Insect Identification Laboratory at the address below. We also
ask that the following information be included with the parasites: name
(optional), date of collection, collection locality (county at minimum,
township or closest city preferred; we don’t need to know where your secret
hunting spot is), and if the parasites were collected on the deer or the
hunter.
Additional details about deer keds, including
life history and photographs; identification; how to avoid keds and ticks,
including precautions to take before and after hunting; and how collect and
submit samples are available on the project website, www.PAParasiteHunters.com. Mail inquiries and
samples can be directed to the following address:
Attn: Ked research project
Insect Identification Laboratory
501 Agricultural Science & Industries Building
University Park, PA, 16802
-----------------------------------------
Michael Skvarla, Ph.D.
Insect Identifier and Extension Educator
Department of Entomology
Penn State University
