Faculty

James E. Miller
Professor, Parasitology

Laboratory:

Phone: 225-578-9652
Fax: 225-578-9701
jmille1@lsu.edu

Education:

B.S. University of New Mexico • D.V.M. University of California, Davis • M.P.V.M. University of California, Davis • Ph.D. University of California, Davis

Dr. James E. Miller has been a member of the faculty since 1984; he was appointed full Professor in 1995 and was Acting Head of the former Department of Epidemiology and Community Health (1999-2001). He is author and/or coauthor of over 70 refereed journal articles, numerous technical/report papers, proceedings papers, and abstracts, and three book chapters. He is a research collaborator with numerous national and international organizations including Utah State University (Logan, UT), the University of Georgia (Athens, GA), Virginia Tech University (Blacksburg, VA), Fort Valley State University (Fort Valley, GA), USDA ARS, Booneville, AR, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, San Diego Wild Animal Park, Busch Gardens Tampa, Audubon Zoo, BRECs Baton Rouge Zoo, the International Livestock Research Institute (Nairobi, Kenya), the Roslin Institute (Edinburgh, Scotland), the University of Otego (Dunnedin, NZ), the Moredun Research Institute (Edinburgh, Scotland) and the Danish Centre for Experimental Parasitology (Copenhagen, Denmark). He is affiliated with several professional organizations and is currently participating on 2 USDA National Projects: 1) Cattle/Sheep Animal Genome Technical Committee, National Animal Genome Research Program, National Research Support Program (NRSP-8), Sheep Committee Secretary (1999) and Chair (2000), and 2) Genetic (Co)Variance of Parasite Resistance, Temperament, and Production Traits of Traditional and Non-Bos indicus Tropically Adapted Breeds. He is a co-founder of the Southern Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control. The Consortium’s primary purpose is to evaluate and promote alternative non-chemical methods for controlling nematode parasites. His teaching assignments include several professional and graduate courses in the School of Veterinary Medicine and undergraduate courses in the Department of Animal Science.

Research Interests

Dr. Miller is the principal investigator for several competitive and industry-supported grants dealing with the epidemiology, control, and genetics of ruminant nematode parasitism. His research program focuses on improving ruminant production using an integrated approach to controlling parasites. His area of special expertise is small ruminant gastrointestinal nematode parasitism, which is the most serious constraint affecting production world-wide. Economic losses are caused by decreased production, costs of prophylaxis, costs of treatment, and the death of infected animals. Anthelmintic resistance in nematode populations (specifically affecting small ruminants) threatens the success of treatment programs. Dr. Miller's research is directed at developing alternative strategies for control.

His current research program is two-fold: 1) To determine why, and/or how, Gulf Coast Native (Native) sheep are relatively more resistant to gastrointestinal nematode infection than Suffolk sheep, and 2) To evaluate alternative (non-chemical) approaches for protection against nematode infection. In 1), his lab is evaluating segregation of resistance leading to identification of closely linked genetic microsatellite markers associated with resistance using an F2 reference family approach. Such genetic markers can then be used for selection purpose and for fine mapping of the quantitative trait loci (QTL). They are also characterizing differences in the host immune response (Th1 vs. Th2) that might account for resistance. In 2), they are evaluating nematode-trapping fungi, condensed tannin-containing plants, copper wire particles, and vaccination protocols in conjunction with strategic use of anthelmintics for use in integrated control programs.

Selected Publications

Burke, J.M., Miller, J.E., 2008. Use of FAMACHA system to evaluate gastrointestinal nematode resistance in offspring of stud rams. Vet Parasitol 153, 185-192.

Hunt, P.W., McEwan, J.C., Miller, J.E., 2008. Future perspectives for the implementation of genetic markers for parasite resistance in sheep. Trop Biomed 25, 18-33.

Burke, J.M., Terrill, T.H., Kallu, R.R., Miller, J.E., Mosjidis, J. 2007. Use of copper oxide wire particles to control gastrointestinal nematodes in goats. J Anim Sci 85, 2753-2761.

Burke, J.M., Kaplan, R.M., Miller, J.E., Terrill, T.H., Getz, W.R., Mobini, S., Valencia, E., Williams, M.J., Williamson, L.H., Vatta, A.F. 2007. Accuracy of the FAMACHA system for on-farm use by sheep and goat producers in the southeastern United States. Vet Parasitol 147, 89-95.

Burke, J.M., Morrical, D., Miller, J.E., 2007. Control of gastrointestinal nematodes with copper oxide wire particles in a flock of Polypay ewes and offspring in Iowa. Vet Parasitol 146, 372-375.

Terrill, T.H., Mosjidis, J.A., Moore, D.A., Shaik, S.A., Miller, J.E., Burke, J.M., Muir, J.P., Wolfe, R., 2007. Effect of pelleting on efficacy of sericea lespedeza hay as a natural dewormer in goats. Vet Parasitol 146, 117-122.

Lange, K.C., Olcott, D.D., Miller, J.E., Mosjidis, J.A., Terrill, T.H., Burke, J.M., Kearney, M.T., 2006. Effect of sericea lespedeza, fed as hay, on natural and experimental Haemonchus contortus infections in lambs. Vet Parasitol 141, 273-278.

Miller, J.E., Bishop, S.C., Cockett, N.E., McGraw, R.A., 2006. Segregation of natural and experimental gastrointestinal nematode infection in F₂ progeny from susceptible Suffolk and resistant Gulf Coast Native sheep and its usefulness in assessing genetic variation. Vet Parasitol 140, 83-89.

Jackson, F., Miller, J.E., 2006. Alternative approaches to control – Quo vadis. Vet Parasitol 139, 371-384.

Burke, J.M., Miller, J.E., 2006. Evaluation of multiple low dose copper oxide wire particle boluses for control of Haemonchus contortus in lambs. Vet Parasitol 139, 145-149.

Peña, M.T., Miller, J.E., Horohov, D.W., 2006. Effect of CD4⁺ T lymphocytes depletion on resistance of Gulf Coast Native lambs to Haemonchus contortus infection. Vet Parasitol 138, 240-246.

Miller, J.E., Horohov, D.W., 2006. Immunological aspects of nematode parasite control. J Anim Sci 84 Suppl E124-32.

Flemming, S.A., Craig. T., Kaplan, R., Miller, J.E., Navarre, C, Riggs, M., 2006. Anthelmintic resistance of gastrointestinal parasites in small ruminants. J Vet Intern Med 20, 435-441.

Burke, J.M., Miller, J.E., Brauer, D.K., 2005. The effectiveness of copper wire particles as an anthelmintic in pregnant ewes and safety to offspring. Vet. Parasitol. 131, 291-297.

Burke, J.M., Miller, J.E., Larsen, M., Terrill, T.H., 2005. Interaction between copper oxide wire particles and Duddingtonia flagrans in lambs. Vet Parasitol 134, 141-146.

Terrill, T.H., Larsen, M., Samples, O., Husted, S., Miller, J.E., Gelaye, S., 2004. Capability of the nematode-trapping fungus Duddingtonia flagrans to reduce infective larvae of Haemonchus contortus in goat feces in the southeastern United States: Dose titration and dose timing interval studies. Vet Parasitol 120:285-296.

Peña, M.T., Miller, J.E., Horohov, D.W., 2004. Effect of dexamethasone treatment on the immune response of Gulf Coast Native lambs to Haemonchus contortus infection. Vet Parasitol 119: 223-235.

Fontenot, M.E., Miller, J.E., Peña M.T., Larsen, M., Gillespie, A., 2004. Efficiency of feeding Duddingtonia flagrans chlamydospores to grazing ewes on reducing availability of parasitic nematode larvae on pasture. Vet Parasitol 118, 203-213.

Burke J.M., Miller, J.E., 2002. Relative resistance of Dorper crossbred ewes to gastrointestinal nematode infection compared with St. Croix and Katahdin ewes in the southeastern United States. Vet Parasitol 109: 265-275.

Peña, M.T., Miller, J.E., Fontenot, M.E., Gillespie, A., Larsen, M., 2002. Evaluation of Duddingtonia flagrans in reducing infective larvae of Haemonchus contortus in feces of sheep. Vet Parasitol 103: 259-265.

Terrill, T.H., Kaplan, R.M., Larsen, M., Samples, O.M., Miller, J.E., and Gelaye, S., 2001. Anthelmintic Resistance on Goat Farms in Georgia—Efficacy of Anthelmintics Against Gastrointestinal Nematodes in Two Selected Goat Herds. Vet Parasitol 97: 261-268.

Li, Y., Miller, J.E., and Franke, D.E., 2001. Epidemiological observation and heterosis of gastrointestinal nematode infection in Suffolk, Gulf Coast Native and crossbred lambs. Vet Parasitol 98: 273-283.

Peña, M.T., Miller, J.E., Wyatt, W., and Kearney, M.T., 2000. Differences in susceptibility to gastrointestinal nematode infection between Angus and Brangus cattle in south Louisiana. Vet Parasitol 89: 51-61.

Kabagambe, E.K., Barras, S.R., Li., Y., Peña, M.T., Smith, W.D., and Miller, J.E., 2000. Attempts to control haemonchosis in grazing ewes by vaccination with gut membrane proteins of the parasite. Vet Parasitol 92: 15-23.

Miller, J.E., Bahirathan, M., Lemarie, S.L.,et al., 1998. Epidemiology of gastrointestinal nematode parasitism in Suffolk and Gulf Coast Native sheep with special emphasis on relative susceptibility to Haemonchus contortus infection. Vet Parasitol 74: 55-74.

Bahirathan, M., Miller, J.E., Barras, S.R., et al., 1996. Susceptibility of Suffolk and Gulf Coast Native suckling lambs to naturally acquired strongylate nematode infections. Vet Parasitol 65: 259-268.