Pathogen Presence in Historic Rodents of Vermont
Moavenian, Li
Moavenian, Li
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Abstract
Ixodes scapularis, the main vector for Borrelia burgdorferi in human patients, has had a confirmed presence in Vermont since 2006, however there is strong evidence to suggest the pathogen, endemic to Europe, was brought to the east coast by invasive rodents far before that. In this study, we tested preserved specimens of Vermont rodents, dating from 1914 to 2002, for B. burgdorferi DNA. We extracted DNA from ear clippings, and prepared libraries using the Santa Cruz reaction protocol, which is optimized for ancient DNA. Using a qubit and spot-checking for large adapter peaks in a tape station showed that the libraries were successful. The libraries were sequenced at a 3rd party lab with 2x150 paired end reads using the Illumina Novaseq Platform. The presence of B. burgdorferi in Vermont rodent populations prior to the arrival of I. scapularis would significantly alter our current understanding of how B. burgdorferi spread through the northeast US and how it is maintained in the current ecosystem. With global warming, the range of I. scapularis is projected to continue expanding north, and with it the range of B. burgdorferi. Understanding its historic emergence will help us better predict and handle the future distribution and prevalence of B. burgdorferi in both humans and animals.
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Date
1/1/2026
Student Status
Junior (Graduating in 2027)
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Poster
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Biological Science
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College of Arts and Sciences
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Life Science