Oral Presentations and Performances: Session II
Project Type
Presentation
Additional Mentor
Maddy Rowland (Madeline.Rowland@umconnect.umt.edu), Leah Rensel (leah.rensel@umconnect.umt.edu)
Abstract / Artist's Statement
Deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) are an abundant North American rodent and the primary reservoir for Sin Nombre virus (SNV), a hantavirus with a 30-40% case fatality rate in humans. While ectoparasites, such as fleas, are not considered vectors of SNV, their bites may indirectly affect the transmission of SNV by impacting host condition or immune function. These impacts could potentially lead to an increase in host susceptibility and/or an increase in viral shedding, yet there is still little knowledge on what influences flea parasitism on deer mice in western Montana. This study looks to examine how mouse sex, mouse body mass, soil moisture, and soil temperature affect the presence and number of fleas in two populations of deer mice at MPG Ranch in Florence, Montana. For this study, I used preserved carcasses that were collected as a part of a longitudinal trapping effort at UM that took place from 2023-2025 with soil moisture/temperature being logged every 30 minutes at each site. Each mouse was individually examined for fleas. Preliminary results show that 154 of 546 (28%) mice were parasitized. We identified 264 total fleas to species and found 9 different species, 2 of which are species not commonly found in this area.
We are analyzing the data using Generalized Linear Mixed Models to assess how biotic and abiotic factors are influencing the presence and abundance of fleas. These analyses will provide insight on the patterns of flea infestation on wild deer mice in Montana.
Category
Life Sciences
To Flea or Not to Flea: Biotic and Abiotic Factors Driving Flea Parasitism on Deer Mice (Peromyscus maniculatus)
UC 327
Deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) are an abundant North American rodent and the primary reservoir for Sin Nombre virus (SNV), a hantavirus with a 30-40% case fatality rate in humans. While ectoparasites, such as fleas, are not considered vectors of SNV, their bites may indirectly affect the transmission of SNV by impacting host condition or immune function. These impacts could potentially lead to an increase in host susceptibility and/or an increase in viral shedding, yet there is still little knowledge on what influences flea parasitism on deer mice in western Montana. This study looks to examine how mouse sex, mouse body mass, soil moisture, and soil temperature affect the presence and number of fleas in two populations of deer mice at MPG Ranch in Florence, Montana. For this study, I used preserved carcasses that were collected as a part of a longitudinal trapping effort at UM that took place from 2023-2025 with soil moisture/temperature being logged every 30 minutes at each site. Each mouse was individually examined for fleas. Preliminary results show that 154 of 546 (28%) mice were parasitized. We identified 264 total fleas to species and found 9 different species, 2 of which are species not commonly found in this area.
We are analyzing the data using Generalized Linear Mixed Models to assess how biotic and abiotic factors are influencing the presence and abundance of fleas. These analyses will provide insight on the patterns of flea infestation on wild deer mice in Montana.