UMaine Veterinarian Comments in Story on Parasites and Moose Mortality
A Bangor Daily News article on parasites threatening Maine’s moose population included comments from University of Maine Cooperative Extension veterinarian Anne Lichtenwalner and several UMaine students who have been researching the effects of moose lungworm on moose mortality. UMaine student Jana Drury, postdoctoral research Sarah Barker and recent UMaine graduate and research assistant Darryl Ann Girardin discussed their research using DNA analysis to determine whether certain lungworm species are new to moose or common. Lichtenwalner, who directs the UMaine Animal Health Laboratory, said it’s important to know if an animal is hosting a new type of parasite, which suggests parasites are adapting to a new food source.