Response of Northern bobwhite () and two parasitic nematode populations in western Oklahoma to anthelmintic supplemental feed.

It has been demonstrated that helminths are capable of critically impacting the fitness of their hosts. This has typically been shown experimentally through the administration of anthelmintic drugs but are rarely performed on a landscape or host population scale. Here, the anthelmintic fenbendazole (FBZ) was mixed in a supplemental feed and provided to a free-ranging population of Northern bobwhite quail ().

A Helminth Survey of Northern Bobwhite Quail (Colinus virginianus) and Passerines in the Rolling Plains Ecoregion of Texas.

The Northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) is a popular game bird that has been experiencing a well-documented decline throughout Texas since the 1960s. While much of this decline has been attributed to habitat loss and fragmentation, recent studies have identified other factors that may also contribute to decreasing quail populations. Parasites, in particular, have become increasingly recognized as possible stressors of quail, and some species, particularly the eyeworm (Oxyspirura petrowi) and cecal worm (Aulonocephalus pennula) are highly prevalent in Texas quails.

Avian and Emerging Human Oxyspirura Species Compared by Morphology, Pathogenicity, Intermediate Host, and Sequence Homology.

Based on sequence homology and phylogenetic tree results, the first report of eyeworm Oxyspirura species larvae has been confirmed in a human patient from Vietnam. However, important information related to Oxyspirura larvae was not presented in the case study. This comment provides a more detailed comparison of the Oxyspirura larvae found in the human case study to the avian eyeworm Oxyspirura petrowi.

Prevalence of monarch (Danaus plexippus) and queen (Danaus gilippus) butterflies in West Texas during the fall of 2018.

Background: The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is a conspicuous insect that has experienced a drastic population decline over the past two decades. While there are several factors contributing to dwindling monarch populations, habitat loss is considered the most significant threat to monarchs. In the United States, loss of milkweed, particularly in the Midwest, has greatly reduced the available breeding habitat of monarchs.