Michael Hildreth

Title

Professor Emeritus of Biology

Office Building

Edgar S. McFadden Biostress Lab

Office

251D

Mailing Address

McFadden Biostress Laboratory 251D
Biology & Microbiology-Box 2140D
University Station
Brookings, SD 57007

Education

• Ph.D. in zoology | Tulane University | 1983
• B.A. in biology and chemistry | Westmar College

Academic Interests

• Zoonotic parasitologist

Academic Responsibilities

• ZOOL 467: General Parasitology (spring semester only)
• BIOL 490: Senior Seminar (fall and spring semesters)
• BIOL 645: Microimaging Techniques

Committees and Professional Memberships

• American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists
• American Society of Parasitologists
• American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
• Helminthological Society of Washington
• South Dakota Academy of Science
• Annual Midwestern Conference of Parasitologists

Areas of Research

Dr. Hildreth’s research program has focused on various aspects of veterinary and medical parasitology, ranging from the use of molecular probes for diagnosing human parasitic infections to measuring economic losses from parasites in cattle.

For the last 14 years, they have been working closely with the South Dakota Department of Health to understand mosquito factors that affect the transmission of West Nile Virus to humans. Most recently, his lab has also been evaluating diagnostic tools for monitoring anthelmintic resistance in cattle, sheep and bison.

Research Interests: (Parasitology and cell biology)   

• Cost assessment and control of cattle, sheep and goat parasites.
• Epidemiology of alveolar hydatid disease in north-central United States.
• Resistance of tapeworm surface membranes to intestinal digestion.
• West Nile virus surveillance in South Dakota mosquitos 
• Molecular and immunological techniques for diagnosing echinococcus in dogs and cats.
• Control and treatment of cryptosporidiosis/coccidiosis in calves.
• Parasites of the Northern Plains.
• Use of biocontrol agents for controlling grasshopper populations.