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My research interests are broad-based. I am interested in emerging infectious diseases and the ecological factors influencing human disease epidemiology. Specifically I am interested in zoonotic and vector-borne diseases. My current research focuses on Sin Nombre virus (SNV), a hantavirus whose reservoir host is the deer mouse. In humans, SNV causes a severe illness known as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). SNV transmission provides an excellent model system for monitoring and learning to predict outbreaks of emergent diseases. The development of accurate predictive models of human risk of exposure requires a through understanding of how SNV is maintained and transmitted in its reservoir hosts. Most studies of SNV have focused on deer mice populations in natural or sylvan settings. However, most human cases of HPS are acquired in peridomestic settings including homes and outbuildings. Although dynamics of natural populations likely influence the numbers of peridomestic deer mice, the specific human and rodent behaviors that lead to peridomestic exposure can be elucidated only through studies in the specific environment of exposure. In a previous study I found that SNV is most prevalent in peridomestic populations of deer mice. The reasons for this difference are unknown but are likely related to differences in the ecology of peridomestic and sylvan deer mice. Unfortunately there are little data on the ecology and behavior of peridomestic deer mice. My current research focuses on the behavior of deer mice in peridomestic settings and how this relates to hantavirus transmission within the population. Education and Training B.S. Biological Science, Zoology Option, University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh View Dr. Kuenzi's full CV in Word
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