Demographics of Common Tick Species in Northern New Jersey
AJAS · 2022 Environmental Science
Overview
Approximately 1% to 50% of ticks carry diseases, and 300,000 cases of tick bites are annually reported in the US. New Jersey holds one of the highest rates of Lyme disease caused by tick bites. It is crucial to understand the biodiversity of ticks across New Jersey and New York since each tick carries an array of pathogens, such as viruses, and toxins. To better inform the public, we visualized the tick biodiversity and associated diseases through a phylogenetic tree. We collected 13 ticks from veterinary clinics and documented the sample’s location and its image, while numerically labelling each tick. DNA Extraction, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Gel Electrophoresis, and DNA Sequencing of our samples were performed by a scientist at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories. We used DNA Subway software to analyze and trim DNA for quality control, BLAST software to identify the species and create a phylogenetic tree, and the CDC “Diseases Transmitted by Ticks” Database to identify the tick’s related diseases. By investigating the biodiversity of local ticks, we contextualized the pathogenic range in New Jersey and New York. We observed that 100% of our samples were the species Ixodes Scapularis, representing its high prevalence in our region.
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Our Story
We both wanted to create a meaningful project under the Urban Barcoding Program. We were really excited to have the opportunity to incorporate DNA-sequencing into our project and scoured through papers to find an idea of what to do. Once we decided to describe the biodiversity of ticks in our region, we began drafting our proposal to the program and our idea was accepted! Almost a year later, we are both thrilled to be able to participate in AJAS and being inducted as AJAS Fellows!
Images (16)
Awards (1)
- AJAS Fellows Badge
Competition history
- AJAS 2022
Resources
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