Parasites like ticks and mosquitoes are a major concern for people around the world. But visiting scholar and parasitologist Arif Ciloglu sees them as key players in understanding how an ecosystem functions.
Working in the Medical Entomology Lab at the Illinois Natural History Survey, Ciloglu studies parasites and vector-borne diseases, with a particular focus on blood parasites of birds, and connects that work to the health of animals, ecosystems, and humans.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.
Q: What first sparked your interest in science, and specifically in studying parasites and the animals that carry them?
A: Reading popular science magazines as a child sparked my curiosity about the natural world. Later, while studying veterinary medicine, I became fascinated by pathogens, the life cycle of parasites, and the subtle, complex ways they use their hosts.
Q: For someone outside your field, how would you explain what vector-borne parasitic diseases are and why they matter?
A: These are diseases caused by parasites transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks, or biting flies. Understanding these diseases matters because they affect not only wildlife health but also provide clues about how pathogens move and evolve in a changing world.
I focus on avian haemosporidians, or blood parasites, that infect birds worldwide. As billions of birds migrate thousands of miles across continents each year, these parasites travel with them. Bird parasites help us understand how infectious diseases spread and adapt to new environments.
Q: How does your work help us better understand the connections between animal health, ecosystems, and human health? Are there specific case studies that you are working on?
A: My research shows how parasites connect animals, ecosystems, and people. Migratory birds can carry parasites over long distances, linking regions and ecosystems. Studying these natural systems helps us see how environmental changes, like habitat loss or climate change, affect the spread of diseases. This reflects the One Health idea that protecting wildlife and ecosystems also protects human health.
I am working on projects that study how parasites are carried by migratory birds, the microbiomes of disease vectors, and the genetic diversity of parasites and their hosts.
Q: If you could share one message with the public about parasites and their role in nature, what would it be?
A: Parasites can harm their hosts, but they also teach us a great deal about how nature works. They are part of the natural balance, influencing evolution and ecosystem dynamics in ways we are only beginning to understand. The goal isn’t to eradicate them but to manage their populations at tolerable levels while preserving ecological balance.
The Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign provides scientific expertise and transformative research to the people of Illinois and beyond. PRI is home to the five state scientific surveys: the Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois State Water Survey, and Illinois Sustainable Technology Center.
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