Poultry Ectoparasite Control

Mites, lice, and other ectoparasites live full or part time on chickens and related poultry. They cause damage to birds by blood-feeding, feather-feeding, and/or pathogen transmission. One goal of the Murillo lab is to develop and test control methods for these ectoparasites that work with poultry management practices, such as in cage-free housing or organic production. 

Host-Parasite Interactions

Parasites influence their hosts in a variety of ways. The Murillo lab is interested in how ectoparasites, like mites, lice, and bed bugs, impact poultry behavior, welfare, and economic output.

Other Livestock Pests

The Murillo lab is interested in fly pests associated with poultry and other livestock. We seek to better understand insecticide resistance, microbial communities associated with flies, and fly vector competence. We are using sensor technology to evaluate how flies impact cattle behavior.