The Tiny Terrors Targeting Chicken Health

Veterinary entomologist Amy Murillo, an assistant professor in the UC Riverside Department of Entomology, will discuss "Tiny Terrors: How Ectoparasites Undermine Chicken Health and Productivity" at the next UC Davis Entomology and Nematology seminar.

The one-hour seminar begins at 4:10 p.m., Monday, May 5 in Room 122 of Briggs Hall. It also will be on Zoom. The Zoom link: https://ucdavis.zoom.us/j/95882849672.

"One of the most profound challenges facing animal agriculture is adapting to animal welfare concerns," Murillo writes in her abstract. "Over the last ten years, there have been substantial changes in how egg layers are housed, with some states legislating the use of cage-free housing. These housing and management changes are affecting the diversity and prevalence of arthropod pests and parasites affecting commercial poultry. This talk will discuss the impact that these arthropods have on chicken health and productivity, as well as challenges associated with managing these pests in cage-free systems."

Veterinary entomology is the study of insects or arthropods that affect animals. The Murillo lab is primarily interested in arthropod pests of poultry and other livestock.

"Research in our lab aims to better understand how arthropod pests affect poultry and livestock behavior, welfare, and production," Murillo writes on her website. "We are interested in understanding the basic biology and ecology of ectoparasites, as well as developing practical control methods for mitigating economic damage and improving animal well-being."

Her lab "focuses on host-parasite interactions, specifically with ectoparasites of livestock, a system that allows for basic research with agricultural applications. Projects include developing and testing novel control methods for use in cage-free and organic egg production and integrated pest management tools for commercial and backyard poultry producers." Murillo is also investigating "ectoparasite effects on animal welfare parameters, and is using on-animal sensors to measure behavioral differences caused by mite and louse infestations."

Murillo received her master's degree in entomology in 2011 from North Carolina State University and her doctorate in entomology from UC Riverside in 2016. She served as an assistant project scientist and then as a postdoctoral research fellow at UCR before joining the faculty in 2020.

Coordinator of the seminars is nematologist Amanda Hodson, assistant professor. She may be reached at akhodson@ucdavis.edu for any technical issues with Zoom.