Publications by authors named "Matthew Kulpa"

The caribou ( sspp.) is a keystone wildlife species in northern ecosystems that plays a central role in the culture, spirituality and food security of Indigenous People. The Arctic is currently experiencing an unprecedented rate of climate change, including warming temperatures and altered patterns of precipitation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Onchocerca is an important genus of vector-borne filarial nematodes that infect both humans and animals worldwide. Many Onchocerca spp., most of medical and veterinary health relevance, are the focus of a variety of diagnostic and molecular research.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - This study explored the impact of filarioid nematodes on northern ungulates, specifically through the detection of their microfilariae in moose blood samples using a new qPCR method.
  • - Researchers collected 166 blood samples from wild moose in Alaska and compared findings from the modified Knott's test and the new qPCR for detecting two types of parasites, achieving a high correlation between the two methods.
  • - The qPCR method showed a detection limit of 0.157 pg/μL of DNA and provided quicker, less labor-intensive results for monitoring these parasites in moose populations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Stephanofilaria stilesi is a nematode affecting cattle in North America, transmitted by horn flies, but its lesions and diagnostic methods have not been well studied.
  • The study involved analyzing skin samples from 22 cattle, using methods like histology and DNA sequencing to investigate the characteristics of the lesions caused by S. stilesi.
  • Findings revealed various skin lesions, with some showing the presence of adult nematodes and larvae, and confirmed S. stilesi DNA in a portion of cases, highlighting the need for better understanding of this infection.*
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

We report a case of infection in a Samar cobra () imported from the Philippines, belonging to a zoological collection in the southern United States. Under a poor post-surgical prognosis, the snake was euthanized, and at necropsy plerocercoids of a Diphyllobotriidea were found in its subcutaneous tissues and musculature. Molecular and phylogenetic analyses of the complete cytochrome oxidase c subunit I () gene of the mitochondrial DNA confirmed that the isolate belonged to the genus and was closely related to isolates from Asian countries (bootstrap support = 99.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Long-standing reports of open sores on the hind legs of moose (Alces alces) have been recorded in Alaska (as well as Canada, Europe, and Michigan), eliciting concerns about causes and infection. We used histological and genomic methods to investigate the sores from 20 adult moose on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. We paired this with thermal imagery and molt scoring of adult moose to further describe sore formation and understand its timing.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Brugia is a vector-transmitted nematode that is commonly known for its zoonotic significance of causing lymphatic filariasis in Asia and Oceanic regions of the world. In addition to public health concerns, Brugia species have been known to infect domestic animals, including dogs and cats. However, information is scarce regarding genus Brugia in North America, and rare infections have been noted in domestic cats, humans, and other wild mammals.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

is a globally distributed genus of lungworms of domestic and wild ungulates. adults inhabit the bronchi, frequently causing subclinical and clinical disease, and that impacts animal health and production. North American bison () and cattle () share various parasitic nematode species, particularly in areas where co-grazing occurs.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) serve as arthropod vectors for various species of Onchocerca (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) that may be associated with disease in humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. The emergence of zoonotic Onchocerca lupi in North America and reports of cervid-associated zoonotic onchocerciasis by Onchocerca jakutensis highlight the need for increased entomological surveillance. In addition, there is mounting evidence that Onchocerca diversity in North America is far greater than previously thought, currently regarded as Onchocerca cervipedis species complex.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

When encountering a unidirectional flow, many fish exhibit an unconditioned orienting response known as rheotaxis. This multisensory behavior can reportedly involve visual, vestibular, tactile and lateral line cues. However, the precise circumstances under which different senses contribute are still unclear and there is considerable debate, in particular, about the contributions of the lateral line.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF