Prof. Robert Colautti\u0027s lab is using human genome sequencing tools to map DNA that identify bacteria that ticks could be carrying.
“The other way is to test the tick, and that’s what we’re focusing on,” he said. “That’s possible now. Right now, a doctor can send a tick for testing. The problem is that it’s a QPCR test, amplifying a piece of DNA from the bacterium to see if it’s in that tick. It requires specialized equipment and a technician with specialized skills. It’s expensive and time-consuming.”“Potentially it could be in a doctor’s office or a pharmacy,” he said.
Being able to identify the species of tick is important, and the possibility of knowing if a blacklegged tick carries Borrelia burgdorferi could assist doctors in deciding whether patients need to be prescribed prophylactic antibiotics, a common measure for anyone who suspects they have had a tick attached for more than 24 hours.
Other tick-borne diseases are working their way north as new tick species that have thrived in the United States move into Ontario and other parts of Canada. Different species can carry “dozens of different pathogens” that can cause different illnesses in humans. Knowing which of those ticks and which pathogens exist in our region are important ways to prevent illness.
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