Appalachian Ohio Tick Project workshop highlights the hidden dangers of Lyme disease

Ohio University Zanesville hosted a teacher workshop focusing on a growing environmental threat – the spread of Lyme disease through ticks. This educational initiative, titled "Exploring the Ecology of Lyme Disease," was part of the broader Appalachian Ohio Tick Project, aimed at engaging high school students and their teachers in vital research into tick-borne illnesses.

The workshop, led by Kip and Jody Brady from New Philadelphia High School and Dr. Risa Pesapane from The Ohio State University, provided a deep dive into the ecology of ticks and the diseases they carry, particularly Lyme disease, which affects more than 450,000 Americans each year. Participants received training in both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, crucial for their roles as educators in their communities.

"During the forthcoming 2024-2025 school year, teachers and students from 9 high schools and 7 counties across southeastern Ohio will survey Blacklegged Tick population densities in local forests, extract and evaluate tick DNA for the pathogen that causes Lyme Disease, and engage with their communities to share project findings and teach about ticks, tick-borne illnesses, and how to protect against them," Kip Brady, a key facilitator of the workshop, said.

The workshop, held at the Ohio University Zanesville campus, allowed participating teachers to gain experience with the field and laboratory methods that their students will use in their courses.  

“We are grateful for Ohio University Zanesville's support and willingness to host this workshop," Brady shared. "The Zanesville campus is the perfect venue for this workshop since it is centrally located between participating schools and offers nearby forest areas to practice tick survey methods and modern laboratory facilities for analyzing tick DNA.”

Dr. Mohannad Al-Saghir from Ohio University Zanesville, an associate professor of Biological Sciences and mentor to Mr. Brady, also highlighted the workshop's broader implications.

"We need such important workshop for our teachers to gain more background on the science of Lyme disease and I hope this workshop is the start for a series of other workshops on other diseases as well," Al-Saghir said. "My hope is to expand them statewide."

Lyme disease, caused by the spirochete bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted by the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis), remains a significant yet underexplored public health issue in Ohio. Despite the prevalence of Lyme disease, there's a surprising gap in comprehensive data on tick-borne pathogens in our region. This workshop serves as a critical step towards closing that knowledge gap, enabling educators to lead community-centered research projects during the upcoming school year.

Participants of the workshop were immersed in a series of engaging activities, from fieldwork estimating tick densities to laboratory exercises such as DNA extraction and gel electrophoresis. The workshop activities included estimating tick densities in nearby forests, extracting DNA from ticks, and using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques to identify pathogens. This hands-on approach equipped educators with the skills needed to guide their students through similar research, emphasizing the importance of scientific inquiry and public health awareness.

The workshop included discussions on data analysis and curriculum integration, setting the stage for an ongoing educational initiative that spans across academic disciplines and community boundaries. By fostering an interdisciplinary approach and community collaboration, the Appalachian Ohio Tick Project Workshop not only addressed immediate educational needs but also laid the groundwork for sustained public health initiatives.

Sponsored by New Philadelphia City Schools and funded by the Ohio Environmental Education Fund, the workshop exemplified how local resources and academic institutions like Ohio University Zanesville can collaborate to tackle significant regional health issues.

Recently, OHIO Associate Clinical Professor Dr. Jeff Vasiloff, who has done epidemiologic research on tickborne diseases, also shared ways people can stay healthy and informed on tickborne illness such as Lyme disease.