This summer, rising juniors Emily Davidson and Julia Leep-Lazar – both members of the Muhlenberg women's track and field team – are among a group of students searching the Lehigh Valley for ticks in order to gain a better understanding of them and the dangerous bacteria they carry.

The team, led by Marten Edwards, professor of biology, heads out to the woods and drags squares of white corduroy for immature ticks to climb aboard in search of a meal (the technique mimics the actions of white mice, a favorite target of the ticks). The research team has already collected over 800 of the tiny blood suckers.
 
Back in the lab, they extract DNA from the ticks to see which ones carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Their results? Roughly 23% of the ticks collected have been infected. While the number itself may be alarming, the findings highlight the need to pay attention to local tick bites.
 
Davidson believes the findings will have a great effect on preventing Lyme disease in the Lehigh Valley. She would like to be a doctor and is motivated by her passion to help people.

"I think the biggest goal is increasing awareness," said Davidson. "I don't think people know that the rate of infected ticks is as high as it is. Just knowing the simple steps you can take – like wearing long pants and socks when you go into wooded areas, spraying yourself with DEET and checking yourself for ticks after spending time outdoors – can make a huge difference."

In order to share this information with the public, the researchers have teamed up with Lehigh Valley Health Network to post signs at some popular hiking trail heads (in both Spanish and English) to enhance tick knowledge.

Leep-Lazar, like Davidson a biology major and public health minor, will take her concern for public health to Africa this fall when she studies in Gaborone, Botswana.

Davidson, meanwhile, will continue her studies on campus while also resuming her career with the cross country team.

"That's honestly one of the reasons why I choose this school – because I felt like I could be the best athlete and student possible and I wouldn't have to sacrifice either discipline," she said. "So going into Muhlenberg I knew I wanted to run all three seasons and I knew research was a goal here."

by David Woods