The Troublesome Ticks Research Protocol: Developing a Comprehensive, Multidiscipline Research Plan for Investigating Human Tick-Associated Disease in Australia
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Long, Michelle
Lee, Wenna
Austen, Jill M
Cunneen, Mike
Ratchford, Andrew
Burns, Brian
Kumarasinghe, Prasad
Ben-Othman, Rym
Kollmann, Tobias R
Stewart, Cameron R
Beaman, Miles
Parry, Rhys
Hall, Roy
Stenos, John
et al.
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Abstract
In Australia, there is a paucity of data about the extent and impact of zoonotic tick-related illnesses. Even less is understood about a multifaceted illness referred to as Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks (DSCATT). Here, we describe a research plan for investigating the aetiology, pathophysiology, and clinical outcomes of human tick-associated disease in Australia. Our approach focuses on the transmission of potential pathogens and the immunological responses of the patient after a tick bite. The protocol is strengthened by prospective data collection, the recruitment of two external matched control groups, and sophisticated integrative data analysis which, collectively, will allow the robust demonstration of associations between a tick bite and the development of clinical and pathological abnormalities. Various laboratory analyses are performed including metagenomics to investigate the potential transmission of bacteria, protozoa and/or viruses during tick bite. In addition, multi-omics technology is applied to investigate links between host immune responses and potential infectious and non-infectious disease causations. Psychometric profiling is also used to investigate whether psychological attributes influence symptom development. This research will fill important knowledge gaps about tick-borne diseases. Ultimately, we hope the results will promote improved diagnostic outcomes, and inform the safe management and treatment of patients bitten by ticks in Australia.
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Pathogens
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11
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11
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© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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Animal protection (incl. pests and pathogens)
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Microbiology
DSCATT
ticks
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Barbosa, AD; Long, M; Lee, W; Austen, JM; Cunneen, M; Ratchford, A; Burns, B; Kumarasinghe, P; Ben-Othman, R; Kollmann, TR; Stewart, CR; Beaman, M; Parry, R; Hall, R; Stenos, J; et al., The Troublesome Ticks Research Protocol: Developing a Comprehensive, Multidiscipline Research Plan for Investigating Human Tick-Associated Disease in Australia, Pathogens, 2022, 11 (11), pp. 1290