2017 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report
Host-parasite dynamics in a human-modified landscape
| Project/Area Number |
17J00446
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| Research Institution | Kyoto University |
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Principal Investigator |
FRIASVILLARROEL LIESBETH MARTINA 京都大学, 理学研究科, 特別研究員(DC2)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2017-04-26 – 2019-03-31
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| Keywords | Parasite assemblages / Parasite diversity / Parasite distribution / Sympatric primates / Wildlife parasites / Borneo / Disease ecology / Communities |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
I conducted parasitological and molecular analyses of fecal samples to determine primate parasite diversity in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary (Sabah). I also initiated a collaboration with researchers from Nagasaki University, where I am assessing the suitability of Next-Generation Sequencing for analysis of parasite diversity from fecal samples. I was involved in creating the Asian chapter of the Wildlife Disease Association, and co-organized a workshop on Disease Ecology and Conservation Medicine in Mexico and in Malaysia. Finally, I presented my work at an International Conference in San Cristobal de Las Casas (Mexico) and two domestic conferences, receiving a prize for best poster presentation in one of them. I also published one manuscript and co-authored two book chapters.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
The Sabah Biodiversity Council, institution in charge of issuing sample export licenses, has not met over a year now, so after a long wait I decided to conduct parasitological and molecular analysis in Sabah, which I had not anticipated. Regardless of this minor delay, I am confident I will be able to finish this project on time.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
Over 70% of the molecular analyses are finished by now, and I expect the rest will be done by the end of July. This year I will be working on (1) the morphological and molecular description of a new species of pinworm from a slow loris, (2) building models to analyze the parasite spatial distribution in Bornean primates, and detect potential infection hotspots, and (3) preparing three manuscripts to be submitted before my thesis submission. Finally, different parts of this research will be presented at two international conferences later this year, one in Malaysia and the other one in Indonesia.
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