October Survey Results

One important thing to remember is that ticks DO NOT die with a killing frost. Adult stage Deer ticks are abundant throughout October and November and remain active through the winter months.

1. Have you found any ticks on you or family members during October?

2. Have you found any ticks on your pets during October?

3. Have you had a killing frost in your area?

4. Do you expect the ticks to go away following a killing frost?

5. Do you typically take any tick-bite protection actions for yourself, family or pets during October?

6. Have you or anyone in your family ever been diagnosed with Lyme disease?

7. Where are you from?

Tick Bite Patch

Development of the "Tick Bite Patch", a transdermal delivery system for anti-tick vaccines, is an all-Rhode Island collaboration between three well-established laboratories at the University of Rhode Island and two early-stage Rhode Island-based biotechnology companies.

Anti-tick Vaccine Development

This project stems from the observation that an acquired tick resistance (ATR) to blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) blood feeding provides partial (~70%) protection from Lyme disease spirochete infection in a Guinea pig (GP) model. The project builds upon a suite of novel high-throughput antigen screening tools, developed over the past 5 year period.

Area-Wide Tick Control

For over a decade, Narragansett has reported one of the highest incidence rates for Lyme disease in Rhode Island. Even last year when ticks were less abundant, 1 out of every 400 residents suffered a newly identified case.

Tick Bite Protection With Permethrin-Treated Summer Clothing

Insect repellents represent one of the first lines of defense against attacks by blood feeding ticks and the diseases they can transmit. The most common products contain DEET and are applied to skin. An alternative personal-use repellent strategy is to apply repellent or toxicant products (usually permethrin) to clothing or other fabrics rather than directly on the skin.