Binghamton Research Days Student Presentations
The Neighborhoods Project: Risk of Infection for Tick-borne Disease in Built Environments
The Neighborhoods Project: Risk of Infection for Tick-borne Disease in Built Environments
Authors: Rob Johnson, Lucy Temerian, Beck Almawaldi, Hannah Wolf, Jessica Coles, Jack Hirsch, Jessica Tampori, Janell Atkins, Vincent Lam, Louis Glickman, Megan Gauck, Margaret Duris, Ralph M Garruto
Authors: Rob Johnson, Lucy Temerian, Beck Almawaldi, Hannah Wolf, Jessica Coles, Jack Hirsch, Jessica Tampori, Janell Atkins, Vincent Lam, Louis Glickman, Megan Gauck, Margaret Duris, Ralph M Garruto
Field of Study: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
Field of Study: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
Affiliation: Tick-borne Disease Research Center
Affiliation: Tick-borne Disease Research Center
Mentor: Ralph Garruto, Anthropology
Mentor: Ralph Garruto, Anthropology
Abstract
Abstract
The most prevalent tick-borne disease in the United States is Lyme Disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted to humans via bites from infected Ixodes scapularis or deer ticks.The Neighborhoods Project is an in-depth study of risk of infection for tick-borne diseases in built enviornments with fragmented ecosystems, places where people live, work, and recreate. From 2017-2022 ticks were collected by dragging a 1x1 meter corduroy cloth over low-lying vegetation in the rear yard of 287 households in urban and peri-urban areas of the Southern Tier of New York during the summer and fall to determine density and infectivity of nymphal and adult ticks. To complement the tick collection, a 71 question behavior-focused questionnaire was also completed by the homeowners. Our study will evaluate ecological and behavioral risk of infection for tick-borne diseases and shed light on potential public health interventions to decrease such risk.
The most prevalent tick-borne disease in the United States is Lyme Disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted to humans via bites from infected Ixodes scapularis or deer ticks.The Neighborhoods Project is an in-depth study of risk of infection for tick-borne diseases in built enviornments with fragmented ecosystems, places where people live, work, and recreate. From 2017-2022 ticks were collected by dragging a 1x1 meter corduroy cloth over low-lying vegetation in the rear yard of 287 households in urban and peri-urban areas of the Southern Tier of New York during the summer and fall to determine density and infectivity of nymphal and adult ticks. To complement the tick collection, a 71 question behavior-focused questionnaire was also completed by the homeowners. Our study will evaluate ecological and behavioral risk of infection for tick-borne diseases and shed light on potential public health interventions to decrease such risk.