Education

PhD (anticipated), Louisiana State University, 2023

MS, Louisiana State University, 2019

DVM, North Carolina State University, 2016

BS, Florida State University, 2008

Research Interest

Currently, Dr. Boykin is researching infectious diseases affecting the feeder cricket industry as part of her PhD project. Specifically, she is working with several viruses known to infect Acheta domesticus crickets and how the cricket's gut microbiome can have a protective effect against disease virulence. The feeder cricket industry is not only important for insectivorous animals, but there is also interest in growing the industry to be used as an ingredient in pet foods, agricultural feeds, and eventually in human foods. Prior to her PhD project, Dr. Boykin evaluated another feeder insect, the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), as a diet component for reptiles and formulated new gut loading diets for crickets, dubia roaches, mealworms, and superworms. 

Teaching Interest

Dr. Boykin enjoys teaching about all aspects of zoological medicine with special interests in invertebrate medicine and reptile nutrition and husbandry.

Clinical Interest

Dr. Boykin is willing to work with all species great and small!  From the largest of whale species to the smallest of insects.  Currently, she is focused on working with wildlife species that are presented to the Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana, a non-profit hospital for injured wildlife, that focuses on promoting conservation of our native species.

Awards & Honors

2021, BioOne Ambassador Award 

2020, LSU Vet Med Distinguished Thesis Award

2016, Excellence in Zoological Medicine Award

2015 and 2016, Phi Zeta Veterinary Honor Society (Psi Chapter)

Publications

Boykin K, Bitter A, Mitchell MA. 2021. Using a Commercial Gut Loading Diet to Create a Positive Calcium to Phosphorus Ratio in Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor). Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery, 31(4):302-306.  https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-herpetological-medicine-and-surgery/volume-31/issue-4/JHMS-D-21-00027/Using-a-Commercial-Gut-Loading-Diet-to-Create-a-Positive/10.5818/JHMS-D-21-00027.full 

Mason AK, Perry SM, Boykin KL, Mitchell MA. 2021. Measuring the Effects of a Single Dose of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) on Plasma Testosterone Concentrations in Leopard Geckos (Eublepharis macularius ). Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery, 31(3):197-203.   https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-herpetological-medicine-and-surgery/volume-31/issue-3/JHMS-D-21-00013/Measuring-the-Effects-of-a-Single-Dose-of-Human-Chorionic/10.5818/JHMS-D-21-00013.full 

Mason AK, Lee J, Perry SM, Boykin KL, Del Piero F, Lierz M, Mitchell MA. 2021. Determining the Effects of Serial Injections of Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotropin on Plasma Testosterone Concentrations, Testicular Dynamics, and Semen Production in Leopard Geckos (Eublepharis macularius). Animals, 11, 2477.   https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.vmed-ezproxy.lsu.edu/34573443/ 

Rockwell K, Boykin K, Padlo J, Ford C, Aschebrock S, Mitchell M. 2021. Evaluating the Efficacy of Alfaxalone in Corn Snakes (Pantherophis guttatus). Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia, 48: 364-371.   https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.vmed-ezproxy.lsu.edu/33658163/ 

Boykin KL, Mitchell, MA. 2021. The Value of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia illucens) as a Food Source: A Review. Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery, 31(1).  https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-herpetological-medicine-and-surgery/volume-31/issue-1/JHMS-S-20-00015/The-Value-of-Black-Soldier-Fly-Larvae-Hermetia-illucens-as/10.5818/JHMS-S-20-00015.full 

Boykin KL, Mitchell, MA. 2020. Evaluation of Vitamin A Gut Loading in Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Heremtia illucens). Zoo Biology, 40(2): 142-149. doi.org/10.1002/zoo.21582  https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.vmed-ezproxy.lsu.edu/33188712/ 

Boykin KL, Butler-Perez K, Buck CQ, Peters JW, Mitchell MA. 2020. Preliminary Evaluation of a Novel Insect-Based Sausage Diet for Juvenile Corn Snakes (Pantherophis guttatus). Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery, 30(3): 129-136.  https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-herpetological-medicine-and-surgery/volume-30/issue-3/19-01-182.1/Preliminary-Evaluation-of-a-Novel-Insect-Based-Sausage-Diet-for/10.5818/19-01-182.1.full 

Boykin KL, Carter RT, Butler-Perez K, Buck CQ, Peters JW, Rockwell KE, Mitchell MA. 2020. Digestibility of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia illucens) Fed to Leopard Geckos (Eublepharis macularius). PLoS One, 15(5): e0232496.   https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.vmed-ezproxy.lsu.edu/32392254/ 

Camacho-Luna P, Alling C, Boykin K, Liu C, Carter R, Lewin A. 2020. Ocular Findings in a Group of Healthy Captive Leopard Geckos. Veterinary Ophthalmology, 00:1-8.   https://pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.vmed-ezproxy.lsu.edu/32012425/ 

Boykin KL. Assessing the Nutritional Value of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia illucens) Used for Reptile Foods. Master’s thesis, Louisiana State University, April 2019.  https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_theses/4927/ 

Grant Funding

Boykin KL, Mitchell MA. Insects Looking for Better Culture: Defining the Microbiome of Acheta domesticus Crickets and Identifying Possible Probiotic Candidates. LSU SVM Corp Grant FY2022-2023, $10,000.00

Aguilar G, Mitchell MA, Boykin KL. Determining the Effects of Three Different Dietary Calcium: Phosphorus Ratios on Bone Density in Ex Situ Critically Endangered Lemur Frogs (Agalychnis lemur). LSU-ACRES FY2022-2023, $40,000.00

Boykin KL, Mitchell MA. Will House Crickets (Acheta domesticus) Suffer the Next Great Pandemic?: Measuring the Prevalence of Invertebrate Iridovirus Type 6 on a Commercial Cricket Farm in the USA. LSU VCS Corp Grant, FY2021-2022, $5,000.00

Aguilar G, Mitchell MA, Boykin KL. Preventing Hypovitaminosis A in Ex Situ CriticallyEndangered Lemur Frogs (Agalychnis lemur) by Developing an Appropriate Method of Delivering Vitamin A Through the Diet. LSU-ACRES FY2021-2022, $39,992.52

Barras E, Mitchell MA, Boykin K, Aguilar G. Evaluating the Effect of Gut Loaded Dubia Roaches (Dubia blaptica) on the Physiologic Health of Common Bluetongue Skinks (Tiliqua scincoides). LSU VCS Corp Grant, FY2021-2022, $4738.71

Rayment K, Mitchell MA, Boykin KL, Mason A, Russel L, Jeon YN, Mayer C. Determining Pharmokinetic Properties of Long-Acting Doxycycline hyclate in Barred Owls (Strix varia) Undergoing Rehabilitation. LSU VCS Corp Grant, FY2020-2021, $3,984.00

Jeon YN, Boykin KL, Mitchell MA, Mason A. Development of a Novel Insect-Based Diet for Adult Corn Snakes (Pantherophis guttatus). LSU VCS Corp Grant, FY2020-2021, $3,936.00

Mason AK, Mitchell MA, Perry SM, Boykin KL. Determining the Effects of Exogenous Human Chorionic Gonadotropin and Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotropin on Plasma Testosterone and Semen Production in Leopard Geckos (Eublepharis macularius). LSU-ACRES FY2020-2021, $44,546.00

Boykin KL, Mitchell MA. Characterizing the Roles of Life Stage and Season on the Prevalence of Acheta domesticus Densovirus in Acheta domesticus on a Commercial Cricket Farm in the USA. USDA 1433 grant, FY2019-2020, $7,230.00

Boykin KL, Mitchell MA. Eat More Crickets: Using Next Generation Sequencing to Limit Disease Outbreaks in the Commercial Cricket Industry, LSU VCS Corp Grant, FY2019-2020, $4,000.00

Windle D, Mitchell MA, Boykin KL. It Looks Like a Walking Green Twinkie: Determining the Nutritional Value of Captive-Bred and Reared Tobacco Hornworms (Manduca sexta). LSU VCS CORP Grant, FY2019-2020, $3,995.00

Ashebrock A, Boykin KL, Mitchell MA. Assessing the Digestibility of a Commercial Pelleted Diet and an Experimental Semi-Moist Diet in Red-Foot Tortoises. Morris Animal Foundation Student Scholars program, 5/2019-8/2019, $5,000

Boykin KL, Mitchell MA. Development of a Novel Insect-Based Sausage Diet for Corn Snakes (Pantherophis guttaus). LSU VCS Corp Grant, FY2018-2019, $3,378.26

Mitchell MA, Peters JW, Boykin KL. Evaluating the Efficacy of F10 Against Salmonella sp. in the Aquatic Habitat of the Red-Ear Slider, Trachemys scripta elegans. Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, FY2018-2019, $7,000.00

Boykin KL, Mitchell MA. Assessment of Vitamin A Gut Loading in Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia illucens) and Determination of Digestibility and Nutrient Absorption When Fed to Leopard Geckos (Eublepharis macularius). LSU VCS CORP Grant, FY2017-2018, $4,998.00