By Michael Mulqueen ‘22, DVM ‘26

I had the opportunity to spend two months in the middle of Kruger National Park (KNP) in collaboration with the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), with funding provided by the Cornell Expanding Horizons International Education Program. For those who don’t know, KNP is one of the most famous protected areas on the planet, and that’s not an exaggeration. The park is home to the ‘Big Five’ (lions, rhinos, elephants, leopards, and Cape buffalo). But what they don’t tell you in the brochures is that it's also the perfect place to become intimately acquainted with parasites. Yes, my trip to South Africa was less about lion spotting and more about expanding my veterinary knowledge in the field—specifically, in the thrilling world of parasites.

Our project aimed to investigate how land-use changes—such as urbanization and agricultural expansion—are influencing wildlife health and disease ecology. These changes can drive a phenomenon known as land-use-induced spillover, where increased contact between wildlife, livestock, and humans may lead to the transmission of zoonotic diseases, changes in parasite distribution, and/or an uptick in parasite diversity. Understanding these dynamics is critical to predicting and preventing emerging infectious diseases.

Located in the northeastern corner of South Africa, KNP stretches over nearly 20,000 square kilometers of wild beauty, from savannahs to woodlands to lush riverine landscapes. After a mere 19 hours on planes, a 2.5-hour bus ride, and another 2-hour car ride, I finally reached the gates of Kruger. The short drive from the main Kruger Gate to the Skukuza Science Learning Initiative (SSLI) campus was filled with sightings of kudu, elephants, impala, and nyala, all familiar friends encouraging me to push through my exhaustion and start off this new chapter.

Majestic Rodent Hemotropic Mycoplasmas

The very next morning at 6 a.m., I jumped straight into fieldwork. My first mission: to delve deep into the world of rodent hemotropic mycoplasmas under the guidance of Dr. Liezl Retief, a professor with OTS. Hemotropic mycoplasmas are small bacteria that attach to the surface of red blood cells. But before we could study them, we had to catch their rodent hosts. So, accompanied by armed game guards (because, you know, lions), we marched into the wild to collect... mice. Yes, the very creatures everyone tries to get out of their homes became our top priority. For the next two weeks, we set up rodent traps baited with peanut butter and granola, the Michelin-star cuisine of the mouse world, to lure an assortment of gerbils and mice.

Every morning, we checked our traps, collecting morphometric data, ectoparasites (fleas, mites, and ticks), and, of course, blood samples from our subjects, which were trapped and released. Later, these blood samples would help determine how these hemotropic mycoplasmas are faring within the rodent population of KNP and how they might be affecting the broader ecosystem.

Avian Hemoparasites: Birdwatching with a Twist

But it wasn’t all about the rodents. I also dedicated a portion of my time to studying avian hemoparasites, including Haemosporidia (Plasmodium spp., Haemoproteus spp., and Leucocytozoon spp.), Trypanosoma, Microfilaria, Hepatozoon, and Aegyptianella. These parasites are transmitted by dipteran (true fly) vectors, which basically means birds are at the mercy of any bug with a bad attitude. To collect these parasites, we set up mist nets before dawn to catch the bird hosts. From tiny, colorful sunbirds to the stately barbets, we measured, took blood samples, and released them safely back into the wild.

Given that some of these parasites, such as Plasmodium spp. and Trypanosoma spp., are zoonotic, our work also has implications from a One Health perspective. Birds are like the planet's… canaries in the coal mine, signaling changes in disease transmission long before diseases hit us.

Sneaky Snails: The Hidden World of Trematodes

During my fieldwork, I didn’t just focus on mice and birds—I also dedicated several days to collecting freshwater snails for parasite analysis, with a particular focus on trematodes of the genus Fasciola. These flatworms commonly infect livestock like sheep and cattle, but their presence in South African wildlife remains largely understudied. Alongside one of my OTS mentors, Dr. Josephine Pegg, and with the guidance of a local game guard, we ventured into crocodile- and hippo-populated waters in search of snails.

Freshwater snails play a critical role in the lifecycle of Fasciola parasites, acting as intermediate hosts. By examining the prevalence and abundance of these parasites in snail populations, we can begin to piece together how these pathogens move through the ecosystem—a vital step in understanding potential broader ecological impact.

The Exciting World of Molecular Work

After weeks of sampling rodents, birds, and snails, we headed north in KNP to the Hans Hoheisen Wildlife Research Station (HHWRS) for a deep dive into molecular work. Under the watchful eyes of Dr. Liezl Retief and Dr. Jeanette Wentzel, director at HHWRS. I honed my skills in identifying ectoparasites, performed precise DNA extractions, and learned how to optimize PCR protocols.

During my time at the research station, I also had the pleasure of meeting Dr. E.T. Kgopa, a state veterinarian who expanded my understanding of disease prevalence and monitoring within the park, particularly foot and mouth disease. Lastly, I was able to visit a new crèche (nursery school) in a nearby village. As requested by Dr. Wentzel, two colleagues and I visited the crèche and provided a lesson for the children about the importance of birds in the ecosystem.

While it initially sounds easy enough, none of us could speak Tsonga, the local language. Despite this massive barrier, we spent hours the night before organizing skits and composing a song from scratch in Tsonga. To bring the lesson to life, I used one of my field shirts as makeshift wings to imitate a blue waxbill and transformed a broomstick, a brown paper bag, and my sweatshirt into a playful ostrich costume. The day at the crèche was a joy—we sang, laughed, and shared a moment of genuine connection through creativity and enthusiasm.

Big Game Adventures

With my molecular analyses wrapped up, I had the chance to participate in some hands-on wildlife management work, including buffalo cullings and white rhinoceros dehornings. In the field and later in the abattoir, I learned how animals like Cape buffalo are processed for disease monitoring. This involves looking for signs of trematode, tuberculosis, and/or foot and mouth disease infections to determine whether the meat can be used or should be condemned. Surveillance and monitoring of pathogens such as bovine tuberculosis, which has other reservoirs in the park, are important for preventing spillover to neighboring communities.

I took part in a routine dehorning procedure on a southern white rhino alongside Dr. Lufuno Romeo, a wildlife veterinarian with South Africa National Parks Veterinary Wildlife Services. Due to high poaching pressure, these animals are routinely dehorned in KNP in an effort to make them less appealing targets. The complexity of rhino conservation is amplified by the fact that some poaching has involved park staff, making the battle to save these majestic creatures even more challenging.

In the end, my summer in Kruger was everything a budding veterinary student could hope for—challenging, educational, and, above all, wild. Whether it was being serenaded by the African dawn chorus of wildlife, exploring the intricate world of parasites, or contributing to the protection of endangered species, the experience proved to be a pivotal chapter in my veterinary journey—shaping my perspective, strengthening my purpose, and reaffirming my dedication to veterinary medicine as an impactful career.

Michael Mulqueen, Class of 2026, is a fourth-year DVM student at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. He received a bachelor’s degree in animal science with a minor in microbial sciences, and honors with distinction in research, from Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He is exploring the diversity of career options the field of veterinary medicine has to offer. His broad interests lie in small animal medicine, aquatic medicine, and public health.

All photos provided by Michael Mulqueen.