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Leigha Patton, Senior, Natural Resource Science and Management, Fisheries and Wildlife emphasis Hometown: Camp Point, Illinois What was your internship (location, regular job duties)? I interned as a Research Assistant in MU’s Veterinary Pathobiology department looking at prevalence of Bovine Anaplasmosis in male American Dog Ticks in Missouri. My role was a mix of field and lab work. We traveled to various cattle farms across Missouri and dragged for ticks in fields, brought them back to the lab for identification, and tested the male American Dog Ticks for presence of Bovine Anaplasmosis. How did you find your internship? I was extremely interested in finding a position in research where I could learn about veterinary medicine and natural resources simultaneously. After reaching out to MUCVM about my interest, I was able to be connected with this internship. What was your favorite part of the experience? My favorite part about my internship was spending the summer outdoors. Although hot, it was so much fun to hike around cattle fields and beautiful farms. What was your biggest challenge/learning experience during the internship? Do you feel like you improved those skills/solved those problems as the internship went on?
My biggest challenge was when I started identifying ticks. Especially for engorged or crushed ticks, it can be particularly hard to get a distinct species identification. Over time and with lots of practice, I found it to be much easier and now I can quickly look at a tick and identify it. What was the most important thing you learned during this internship that will help you in your career?
Ticks and tick-borne diseases are a hot topic in small animal, large animal, wildlife, and human medicine alike. As a pre-vet student, having the ability to quickly identify a tick and narrow down possible tick-borne diseases based on that identification is an incredibly unique and valuable skill as a veterinary professional that I will carry with me in my future endeavors. |
