Patrick M. Muzzall

Professor

Ph.D., University of New Hampshire, 1978

423 Natural Science Building
Office Telephone: 517-355-1234
muzzall@msu.edu

Parasitology

My research interests focus on parasitology and ichthyology, with a species interest in aquatic parasitology. My research has been in parasite taxonomy, and the ecology, host-parasite relationships, population biology, community diversity, and pathology of the hosts caused by the parasites. I am interested in the parasites and diseases of fish in nature as well as those raised in culture conditions in Michigan and the Great Lakes area. I am summarizing the parasites of fish in the Great Lakes and from the inland waters of Michigan. This work is establishing a taxonomic base of parasites of fish in the Great Lakes area. Once these parasitological data are compiled, they can be separated and analyzed by a variety of abiotic and biotic variables.

Fishing is a major attraction in Michigan and my parasitological investigations are providing a knowledge base and valuable insight to the fisheries biologist about the health of individual fish, as well as the fish populations in nature. I am also interested in the parasites of amphibians. Invertebrates (mollusks, amphipods, isopods, and mayfly larvae) are also being collected and examined for parasites, and the role they play as intermediate hosts for parasites is being investigated.

Representative Publications

Moravec, F. and P.M. Muzzall. 2009. New species of Freitascapillaria (Nematoda: Capillariidae) from the intestine of Cottus caeruleomentum (Teleostei, Cottidae) in Maryland, USA. Accepted J. Parasitol.

Pracheil, B.M., and P.M. Muzzall. 2009. Chronology and development of juvenile bluegill parasite communities. Accepted J. Parasitol.

Thomas, M.V., and P.M. Muzzall. 2009. Polypodium hydriforme (Cnidaria) from the lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens Rafinesque) in the St. Clair River, Michigan. Accepted J. App. Ichth.

Coady, N.R., P.M. Muzzall, T.M. Burton, R.J. Snider, J. Saxton, M. Seargent, and A. Sommers. 2006. Ubiquitous variability in the prevalence of Trichobilharzia stagnicolae (Schistosomatidae) infecting Stagnicola emarginata in three northern Michigan lakes. J. Parasitol. 92: 10-15.

Muzzall, P.M. 2005. Parasites of amphibians and reptiles from Michigan: a review of the literature 1916-2003. Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division, Research Report, Number 2007. 30 pp.