Developing Multiplex PCR Set Targeting Five Pathogens for Improved Tick-Borne Disease Surveillance

As climate change creates favourable environmental conditions for ticks in Canada, spread of tick-borne diseases (TBD) into British Columbia is a major concern. The current tick surveillance in-house qPCR assay at BCCDC Public Health Laboratory can detect Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, and Ehrlichiosis. This study aims to add two new targets for detection of Rickettsia rickettsii and Babesia microti to the current tick surveillance qPCR assay. By including R. rickettsii and B. microti, the causative agents of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Babesiosis respectively, a single assay will be able to detect five most common TBDs found in North America and increase TBD surveillance in B.C. TEAM Kathy Wong, Min-Kuang Lee, Navdeep Chahil, Muhammad Morshed CONTACT: kathy.wong@bccdc.ca

BCCDC POSTER PRESENTER

10/18/2021 4:50:00 PM