Advertiser Democrat quotes Dill in report on ticks
The Advertiser Democrat quoted Griffin Dill, an integrated pest management professional and director of the Tick Lab with University of Maine Cooperative Extension, in the report “Ticked off: Tracking tick encounters and diseases.” Fifteen species of ticks have been identified in Maine, though not all are permanent residents — some, like the Gulf Coast tick, arrive on wildlife hosts and do not establish viable populations, according to Dill. The most common, and most problematic species in Maine are the deer tick (black-legged tick), American dog tick (wood tick) and woodchuck tick. Ticks can be sent to the UMaine lab for free identification. As of July 24, Dill said the lab had received 1,600 tick samples so far this year, consisting of about 62 percent deer ticks, 34 percent wood ticks and 2 percent woodchuck ticks. The lab also can perform DNA tests for $15 per tick to determine whether or not it carries pathogens, according to the article. So far this year, “Roughly 40 percent tested positive for the pathogen that causes Lyme disease,” said Dill. “Anaplasmosis pathogens were found in about 8 percent of the samples and babesiosis in about 6 percent. Some samples are co-infected with two or more pathogens.” Results from this testing are available in about three business days, but Dill said if someone has been bitten by a tick they should not wait for results before seeing a doctor if they have concerns. “The testing of tick samples is intended to provide information on ticks in Maine,” he said. “It is not intended to be interpreted as a medical diagnosis.” The Tick Lab website has informational resources on tick species in Maine, tick submission instructions, tick removal guidelines, a tick photo gallery, and links to information on tick-borne diseases transmitted in Maine, the article states.