User:Ssmiles17/reflection

Articles	Content Assessment	Importance	Completeness score	Daily views
Encephalitozoon cuniculi	C - class	Fungi: Mid-importance Veterinary Medicine: Low-importance	74	54

Introduction

I chose to evaluate and contribute to the article on Encephalitozoon cuniculi because of my deep personal and academic connection to the topic. As a pre-veterinary student at Rowan University and someone whose family rescues rabbits, I’ve had firsthand experience caring for rabbits infected with this parasite. Two of our family’s rescue rabbits suffered from E. cuniculi, one of whom developed severe head tilt. These experiences, along with my scientific background, made it a meaningful and impactful choice for me to improve this article. I believe my contributions justify a strong grade. I added 2.21K words and 31 reliable references to an article previously rated as C-class with significant gaps. I improved the structure, added current and peer-reviewed sources, expanded underdeveloped sections, and incorporated accessibility and public health considerations. I also addressed an issue noted on the talk page, engaged with scholarly debate around taxonomy, and ensured Wikipedia’s sourcing and copyright standards were upheld.

Contributions

Article: Encephalitozoon cuniculi

Words Added: 2,210 words

References Added: 31

• Key Edits:
  • Created and expanded the "Holistic Treatment and Care" section, which now includes owner care tips, dietary management, hydration, stress reduction techniques, and complementary therapies. These edits address real-world concerns of pet owners looking for supportive options beyond pharmaceuticals.
  • Added new sources and paragraphs to the "Treatment" section, including recent studies on albendazole, fenbendazole, and corticosteroid use. I also included cautions about drug toxicity and emphasized individualized care, aligning with modern veterinary standards.
  • Expanded the "Classification and Cell Structure" section to incorporate updated research on the fungal vs. protozoan classification debate, citing a recent review article and fixing an uncited claim flagged on the talk page.
  • Improved the "Life Cycle and Pathogenesis" section, citing sources that explain vertical transmission, polar tubule injection mechanisms, and intracellular development.
  • Revised the "Epidemiology" section by incorporating new global data, particularly from underrepresented regions like Egypt and Thailand, enhancing inclusivity and geographic breadth.
  • Added a new "Emerging Pathogen" subsection, contextualizing E. cuniculi as a rising concern in veterinary and public health.
  • Improved citations and added links throughout the article, including vertical transmission, zoonotic risk, and DNA repair studies.

None of my edits were reverted, and while no other editors directly engaged on the talk page during my edit period, I proactively resolved long-standing issues noted there (e.g., scientific classification debate and citation gaps).

Wikipedia, generally

• Sources from AB2–AB4:
  • The most valuable sources included recent peer-reviewed journal articles from Veterinary Record, Animals, and Pathogens. These provided updated clinical data and epidemiology statistics that are often missing in older references.
  • I used nearly all my annotated bibliography sources, prioritizing peer-reviewed and globally representative research. One or two were not used due to overlap with stronger, more recent sources.

• What I learned:
  • I learned how to evaluate, integrate, and summarize complex academic content for a public audience. Wikipedia editing taught me how to navigate tone, neutrality, and accessibility while contributing accurate, sourced content.
  • It was meaningful to combine personal experience, academic research, and public service. I felt like I was helping future rabbit owners and vet students alike.

• Course Goals (CCII):
  • This project met Core Value I by requiring multiple rounds of drafting, research, and reflection. I revised my contributions in response to self-evaluation and course feedback.
  • It fulfilled Core Value II because I practiced critical reading by analyzing peer-reviewed journal articles, veterinary textbooks, and government sources. I identified gaps in the original Wikipedia article and used close reading to find supporting research that filled those content gaps
  • On Wikipedia, I had to adapt my writing style for a public, global audience. I wrote neutrally, simplified technical terms for non-expert readers, and organized sections logically to match Wikipedia’s encyclopedic tone. I learned to tailor content to Wikipedia’s expectations, meeting Core Value III.
  • I demonstrated information literacy by locating, evaluating, and integrating scholarly and credible sources. I ensured all new content was verifiable, avoided primary/original research, and properly cited all claims according to Wikipedia’s sourcing guidelines; I demonstrated Core Value IV.
  • By contributing to a widely accessed public health article, I recognized the ethical responsibility to present accurate, inclusive, and unbiased information. My work directly influences how pet owners, students, and even veterinary professionals may understand ''E. cuniculi''. by improving a health-related article for a global audience, I practiced Core Value V: writing ethically and responsibly for the public.

• If I could do it over:
  • I would have started researching and compiling sources earlier to allow more time for writing and revision. I also would have tried to engage on the article’s talk page more to seek editor collaboration.