Tara Roth
Vector Ecologist at San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Credentials
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Vector Control Technician
California Department of Public HealthJul, 2017- Nov, 2024
Experience
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San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District
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United States
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Government Administration
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1 - 100 Employee
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Vector Ecologist
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Jan 2017 - Present
Generalist Vector Ecologist with experience in identification of vectors and nuisance arthropods such as: mosquitoes, Pyemotes itch mites, rodent mites, bedbugs, ticks, and other dipterans. Specialist in tick borne diseases. Duties include mosquito husbandry and maintenance of the insectary. Maintenance and husbandry of sentinel chicken flocks. Ocular and oral sampling of birds for arbovirus disease testing. Arthropod collection and surveillance including use of Malaise traps, mosquito larval dipping, EVS traps, Faye traps, Reiter Cummings gravid traps and ovi traps; larval, nymphal, and adult tick collection via flagging and dragging. Experience with bottle bioassays and resistance monitoring; public interaction (insect identification, article production, giving talks, etc.), and the development and execution of scientific studies to improve methods in infectious disease surveillance and treatment effectiveness. I am also the principle molecular biologist performing DNA/RNA extraction and real-time PCR using multiplex SLE/WEE/WNV as well as other bacterial diseases (Francisella tularensis, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato/B. miyamotoi duplex, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, et.al.). Experience in genotyping and barcoding analysis to identify cryptic and sibling species. Show less
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University of California, Davis
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United States
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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PhD in Integrative Pathobiology. Emphasis in Vector Borne Disease Biology.
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Sep 2011 - Aug 2016
Doctoral thesis on the ecology and epidemiology of Francisella tularensis in the California Central Valley with a focus on the retrospective analysis of an epizootic of tularemia at a primate care facility. For my thesis, I determined relative density of small mammals and mesocarnivores across my study site using animal sign such as feces, tracks, trails and burrows. I also live-trapped small mammals and mesocarnivores and collected blood via retro-orbital abrasion or femoral venipuncture as well as ectoparasites. In total I collected, identified and tested 700 ticks, 2000 mosquitoes and 1000 fleas. Collection methods included tick flagging, malaise, and EVS CO2-baited traps. Vectors were identified to species using published California specific keys. Blood samples from mammals were subjected to serology (indirect ELISA) to look for evidence of prior tularemia exposure, and on both vertebrate and invertebrate samples I performed Taqman real-time PCR, conventional PCR, gel electrophoresis, gel PCR purification, and sequencing to test for F. tularensis. Results were analyzed using mixed model logistic regression in R-statistical software with the independent variable as detection of F. tularensis or seropositive animals. We found that the most likely source of the epizootic was the Putah creek watershed located about half a mile south of a facility and that the infection was transmitted between primate cages through the presence of infested ground squirrel colonies and their fleas. I also conducted disease testing for Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum on ticks and small mammals including American pika as well as extensive identification of fleas collected from rodents throughout the western United States. Show less
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U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
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Research Services
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700 & Above Employee
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Field Assistant/Crew Leader - USGS Forest Service
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May 2011 - Oct 2011
• Navigated through dense woodland using GPS, compass and map • Performed duties at high elevations (2000-8000+ft), and in treacherous terrain • Estimated age of trees and undergrowth and identified plant species using published keys • Estimated percent canopy coverage • Navigated through dense woodland using GPS, compass and map • Performed duties at high elevations (2000-8000+ft), and in treacherous terrain • Estimated age of trees and undergrowth and identified plant species using published keys • Estimated percent canopy coverage
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University of California, Davis
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United States
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Jr. Specialist Scientist
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Sep 2009 - Jan 2010
• Performed necropsies on rodents and collected tissues for DNA extraction • Isolated bacterial strains from amphibian skin swabs, counted colonies and described morphology • Performed Gram staining and bacterial descriptions • Performed DNA extraction, conventional and real-time PCR followed by gel electrophoresis and gel extraction for DNA sequencing • Wrote scientific articles • Performed necropsies on rodents and collected tissues for DNA extraction • Isolated bacterial strains from amphibian skin swabs, counted colonies and described morphology • Performed Gram staining and bacterial descriptions • Performed DNA extraction, conventional and real-time PCR followed by gel electrophoresis and gel extraction for DNA sequencing • Wrote scientific articles
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San Francisco State University
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United States
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Masters Student in Ecology and Systematics
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Sep 2007 - Aug 2009
• Mounted, preserved and identified feather mites using published keys • Performed DNA extraction using Chelex, Quiagen blood and tissue and phenolchloroform extraction techniques• Designed primers for conventional PCR, optimized and troubleshot new PCR protocols• Performed gel-electrophoresis • Performed Exosapit/Spin column PCR clean up, isopropanol DNA precipitation and sequenced on site using an ABI 3100 sequencer
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Field Assistant
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Jun 2008 - Aug 2008
• Navigated to field sites through marsh habitat on foot or by boat using GPS• Performed plant, soil, fish and invertebrate sampling • Set feldspar stations (measures vertical rise of land over time – rate of soil deposition) and SET stations (measures horizontal land change over time)• Calculated average salinity of water samples• Identified plants using published keys• Calculated percent species coverage and biomass of sample areas
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Education
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2011 - 2015
University of California, Davis
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Disease Ecology/Comparative Pathology -
2007 - 2009
San Francisco State University
Master's degree, Ecology and Systematics -
2003 - 2005
University of California, Davis
Bachelor's of Science, Evolution, Ecology and Biodiversity
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