Our group is interested in understanding a unique �hitchhiking� behavior found in certain parasites.  Students of biology and chemistry jointly designed and conducted animal behavior, parasitology, and analytical chemistry experiments to work towards a multidisciplinary understanding of phoretic the proximal cues lice use to locate their fly carriers by comparing the behavior of phoretic wing lice (Columbicola columbae) and non-phoretic body lice (Campanulotes compar) of Rock Pigeons (Columba livia). To study the chemical basis of phoresis, we collected gas-phase substances emitted by flies using solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME), a cold-finger apparatus to condense and concentrate the volatile compounds in a flow of clean air circulated through a chamber, and a Tekmar LSC 2000 purge and trap system.  The extracted material is being characterized by GC/MS and HPLC to determine the number of substances emitted and their molecular mass.  The details of the methods developed and results of the analyses will be presented.

Hitchhiker's guide to parasite transmission: Determining the proximal cues of louse phoresis

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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