I'm thinking of testing collect ticks/tissue in my lab (gasp)! I'm definitely a behavior/ field biologist but I thought I could start attempting to screen with established protocols..maybe...
Erika T Machtinger, when I previously worked at the Northeast Wildlife DNA Laboratory I developed a multiplex qPCR protocol to detect common tick-borne pathogens from tissues/blood/ticks. If interested I can provide more information.
Our TickPath LayerPlex qPCr is currently patent pending. We are offering this technology through the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory. Our goal is for a company to license the product so it can be commercialized. You can find details in the following link:
We have used this technology with ticks, blood and tissues from both domestic animals as well as wildlife (dogs, horses, cattle, deer, coyotes, raccoon, opossums, different species of rodents and humans). The pathogens that we can detect are distributed in 3 layers: Borrelial, Rickettsial and Babesial. This includes Borrelia burgdorferi, relapsing fever borrelias, Ehrlichias, Anamplasma and Rickettsia and a panspecific Babesia.