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Updated: Nov 5, 2025
Detecting the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia Burgdorferi, in Ticks Using Nested PCR
Published on: February 4, 2018
Proficiency at Tick Identification by Pathologists and Clinicians Is Poor
Alvaro C Laga1, Scott R Granter1, Thomas N Mather2,3
1Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Objectives:
Prompt accurate identification of tick species is required for appropriate administration of single dose antimicrobial prophylaxis for Lyme disease in selected patients. To determine the proficiency of clinicians at tick identification in the northeastern United States where Lyme disease has its highest incidence, we undertook a survey.
Methods:
We analyzed the results of a voluntary survey testing proficiency in identifying tick species using high-resolution photographs of ticks.
Results:
Only 35% of ticks were correctly identified. Although 60% of respondents could identify a nonengorged adult blacklegged tick, only 34% could correctly identify a partially engorged blacklegged tick. Participants performed even worse at classifying brown dog, American dog, and Lone Star ticks.
Conclusions:
Proficiency of tick identification by pathologists and clinicians is poor.
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