Lorne Farovitch

Research Interests: Diagnostic tests for tick-borne diseases.

Current Projects: The time consumption of vector-borne disease identification in serum samples. The diagnostic tests to identify particular disease require several methodologies. 222 serum samples from Ecuador were tested for dengue virus (RT-PCR, NS1, IgM, and IgG ELISA) and chikungunya virus (RT-PCR) and there were various seropositive for dengue virus, approximately 100 serum samples came out as positive while it was only approximately 48 seropositive for chikungunya virus. Those 222 serum samples were examined again for different tick-borne disease, Rickettsia via the Spotted Fever Rickettsia EIA IgG Antibody Kit. XXX out of 222 serum samples were identified seropositive for Rickettsia infection. The time length of identification process took more than weeks. Arrayed imaging reflectometry (AIR) technology can be used to speed up the process of diagnostic testing for tick-borne diseases. The one of issues regarding tick-borne diseases we are facing nowadays is lack of rapid diagnostic tests. The serum samples are typically tested for diseases via multiple methods (IgG, IgM, and NS1 ELISA and RT-PCR and etc). It is more rational to execute one diagnostic test to identify a disease caused by tick that could transmit 13 different diseases.

The epidemiologic triangle is not an organized system to study tick-borne disease due to the complication of tick hosts. There is a way to increase the proficient of the model, it is called ecological vector triangle. It is designed by merging the two models; the epidemiologic triangle and the ecological model. The ecological model is used to study multiple factors in different levels of public health. The reason of this integration due to complication of multiple tick-borne diseases, hosts, and habitats. It is a great assistance tool to analyze the priorities of addressing the issues.