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DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY
Syllabus for ENT 4281, Veterinary Entomology

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VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY
COURSE SYLLABUS

Intended audience and prerequisites: Upper division students interested in the biology and management of insects, ticks and mites associated with domesticated animals.

A course in animal biology and experience with domesticated animals will be useful but are not required.

Learning objectives:

1. Be able to identify the common arthropods associated with domestic animals, and know their life histories.
2. Understand how arthropods of different kinds affect animal health and productivity, and how arthropods affect animal and human comfort.
3. Know the tactics available for managing pest arthropods, their hosts and their environment to reduce pest severity.
4. Be able to critique current pest management practices at any animal facility, based on 1-3 above, and design a rational pest management program for any specific system.

Required text: Mullen, G. and L. Durden [Eds.], 2002. Medical and Veterinary Entomology. Academic Press, NY. 597 pp. Two copies are on reserve in EF&W library.

Course requirements: Attend every class and complete scheduled reading assignments prior to class meetings. You should come to class prepared to use the material in class activities and discussions.

Grades will be assigned on the following limits: 93.3+% A, 90–93.3% A-, 86.6–90% B+, 83.3–86.6% B, 80–83.3% B-, 76.6–80% C+, 73.3–76.6% C, 70–73.3% C-, 66.6–70% D+, 63.3–66.6% D, 60–63.3% D-, and <60% F. Of the total course points, weights will be for two open-book quizzes (100 pts each), a comprehensive open-book final (200 pts), a course-long team project (200 pts) and class participation (75 pts). Quizzes will consist of short essay, fill-in, multiple choice, matching questions and specimen identifications. Exams will cover material in readings, class meetings and lab sessions. Further details on the team project are provided below.

Credits and meeting schedule: 3 credits

            Lectures, Mon and Wed, 3-3:50 pm in 490 Hodson Hall,

            Lab, Wed 4:05-4:55 in 480 Hodson Hall, St. Paul Campus

CLASS SCHEDULE

* pages in Mullen & Durden

MANAGEMENT CASE PROJECT

Your course-long assignment is to develop a set of practical recommendations for pest management at a chosen livestock, poultry or companion animal facility.

On Monday (12 September), I will assign each of you to a 3- or 4-member team. Together, you and your teammates will work outside of class to find a real-world facility, to describe and analyze the operation’s pest management problems and current activities, and then to develop recommendations for improvement. A possible topic outline is provided on the next page, to give you a sense of what is expected. Your recommendations should be practical, be effective, and be consistent with your operation’s management goals and practices. Think of yourselves as hired pest management consultants! What would you recommend for your client?

Your results will be developed and presented in three phases. Part I requires that you identify and understand the existing situation at your chosen facility. A written 1st draft of this section is due on 28 Sept, and teams will present their Part I to the class on 10 October. Revised drafts of Part I will be due on 12 October. Part II will contain your analysis of existing pest management practices and your recommendations for improvement. A draft of this section will be due on 23 November, with class presentations on 7 December.

Part III of your report will be where you cite the sources of information used in developing your recommendations. Sources might include textbooks, journal articles, newspaper and trade magazine articles, URLs, and personal citations from interviews with appropriate animal care givers. Use citations in the text of your report to cite the sources you used in developing your analysis and recommendations.

The final, assembled written report, containing parts I, II, III and self appraisals, will be due on 14 December. Late work will not be accepted, unless a delay has been negotiated at least 2 weeks in advance!

Grades: Your personal grade will be based on the quality of your team’s efforts as judged in Part I (15% for written, 15%for presentation), in Part II (15% written, 15% presentation), and in the final report (30% written only). Your grade will also depend on your individual contributions to the report (10%), as judged from your own and other team members’ appraisals.

Outline for Pest Management Case Report

I.   The present situation

A.    Define the chosen operation

Where is it and who manages it?

What species of domestic animal(s) is involved?

For the operation, what are short-, mid- and long-range goals of management?

B.    Animal management activities (describe how operation works)

Husbandry (breeding, age classes, management subunits), housing arrangements (pens, paddocks, etc.), feeding systems, waste systems, and movement of animals into, within, and out of the operation. Include a diagram of the operation, and a year-long calendar, noting when relevant management activities normally occur.

C.    Current perceptions of pest problems in the operation

In the eyes of the facility’s manager(s), what arthropod pests are present, what harm do they cause, and how do those pests affect the ability of the operation to achieve stated goals (as in section IA)?

D.    Current pest management program (direct and indirect)

What is now being done to manage arthropod pests? Summarize as a list of tasks, when each is done, and why is it done.

What is being spent ($) per year for materials, and how much for labor, hired or otherwise?

Despite control efforts, how much harm, injury, or damage is still occurring?

II.   Analysis and recommendations for improvement

A.    Critique existing program (severity of problems, efficacy of management’s actions).

B.    Options for improvement: Describe them, then consolidate into a single plan that is mostappropriate and likely to achieve goals. Summarize with a revised task list and calendar.

C.    Analysis: Provide a comparative “cost/benefit” analysis of the existing and new programs. Consider practicality, costs, likely effectiveness, difficulties in implementation, and sustainability.

D.    Evaluation methods: Assuming the new program is implemented (or management is satisfied with current state of affairs), devise methods and record keeping system that management could use to determine if the program is working. What information will be collected? By whom? How? When?

III.  References (mandatory)

Primary literature (journal articles)

Secondary literature (text books, extension items)

Interviews with knowledgeable people

Example formats will be given and discussed in class.

IV.   Team’s work evaluation (mandatory)

Contract: Checklist of project’s parts, indicating who was responsible for and contributed to each part.

Initialed by all members. How will you divide up team responsibilities and workload? Who will organize, research, write, and manage team activities? You should discuss this subject at your first meeting, and re-evaluate assignments as the semester progresses. Provide a copy of your agreed tasks, initialed by each team member.

Personal appraisal: On a separate sheet, one from each team member, provide a candid appraisal of the quality of work and amount of effort contributed by yourself, and by every other team member.

RESERVED MATERIALS IN EF&W LIBRARY

Bram, R. A. 1978.Surveillance and Collection of Arthropods of Veterinary Importance. USDA Ag. Handbook No. 518. 125 pp.

Cloudsley-Thompson, J. L. 1976.Insects and History. St. Martin’s Press. New York. 242 pp.

Drummond, R. O., J. E. George and S. E. Kunz. 1988.Control of Arthropod Pests of Livestock: A Review of Technology. CRC Press. Boca Raton, FL. 245 pp.

Harwood, R. F. and M. T. James. 1979.Entomology in Human and Animal Health. 7th Edn. Macmillan, New York. 548 pp.

Lancaster, J. L. Jr. and M. V. Meisch. 1986. Arthropods in Livestock and Poultry Production. Halsted, New York. 402 pp.

Lane, R. P. and R. W. Crosskey. 1993. Medical Insects and Arachnids. Chapman and Hall, London. 723 pp.

Loomis, E. C. 1982.Common External Parasites and Pests of Livestock and Poultry in California. University of California, Davis. 71 pp.

*Mullen, G. and L. Durden. 2002.Medical and Veterinary Entomology. Academic Press, NY. 597 pp.

Pedigo, L P. 1999.Entomology and Pest Management. 3rd Edition. Prentice Hall, New Jersey. 691 pp.(see esp. Chapt. 11, Conventional insecticides)

Price, M. A & O. H. Graham, 1997. Chewing and sucking lice as parasites of mammals and birds.  USDA, ARS Technical Bulletin No. 1849. 253 pp + 2 appendices.

Soulsby, E. J. L. 1982.Helminths, Arthropods and Protozoa of Domesticated Animals. 7th Edn. Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia. 809 pp.

Wall, R. and D. Shearer. 1997. Veterinary Entomology. Arthropod Ectoparasites of Veterinary Importance. Chapman & Hall, London. 439 pp.

Williams, R. E. et al . [Eds.], 1985.Livestock Entomology. Wiley, NY. 335 pp.

Zumpt, F. 1965.Myiasis in Man and Animals in the Old World. A Textbook for Physicians, Veterinarians and Zoologists. Butterworths, London. 267 pp.

* Two copies on reserve. Required text