Video Demonstrate Proper Lab Handling of Ticks

Katherine Scott

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the most commonly reported vector-borne illness in the United States is Lyme disease, with 30,000 cases reported in 2010.

The disease is one of many carried by Ixodes scapularis, or the Eastern blacklegged tick. To help understand better how ticks carry these diseases, the CDC is publishing an article today in JoVE that demonstrates how to collect saliva, salivary glands and hemolymph for I. scapularis.

According to article-author Dr. Toni Patton, the goal of the article is simply to show scientists new to tick work how to do it properly. “It sounds easier whenever you read it than it actually is,” she explained.

And what is the significance of all this tick research? “Whenever scientists are studying how pathogens are interacting with the tick, than the scientists can help combat tick-borne diseases.”

Well put. To see the full article, please click here.