Vector-borne diseases
Diagnostic testing for:
Tick-borne diseases
- Lyme disease
- Babesiosis
- Anaplasmosis
- Ehrlichiosis
- Powassan virus
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF)
- Borrelia miyamotoi disease
- Alpha-gal syndrome
- Heartland virus
Mosquito-borne diseases
- Malaria
- West Nile virus
- Eastern equine virus
- Western equine virus
- California (La Crosse) virus
- St. Louis encephalitis virus
- Chikungunya virus
- Zika virus
- Dengue virus
Other vector-borne diseases
- Visceral leishmaniasis
- Parasite identification (arthropods)
- Chagas disease
Our vector-borne disease directors
Bobbi Pritt, M.D., is certified by the American Board of Pathology in clinical and anatomic pathology and microbiology. Her research interests include the evaluation and development of novel laboratory methods to aid in the diagnosis of parasitic and vector-borne diseases. Dr. Pritt works collaboratively with academic and public health partners to provide laboratory diagnostics and education in these areas to a global population. Some of her recent work resulted in the implementation of rapid and highly sensitive molecular tests for malaria, microsporidiosis, Lyme disease, and Borrelia miyamotoi infection. Dr. Pritt also played a key role in discovering and describing two new tick-borne pathogens: Ehrlichia muris eauclairensis and Borrelia mayonii. The latter bacterium causes Lyme disease in the upper Midwestern United States.
Elitza Theel, Ph.D., is certified by the American Board of Medical Microbiology. Her research interests include development and evaluation of novel methods for antibody and antigen detection as diagnostics, specifically for vector-borne and fungal diseases. Dr. Theel also spearheads an international laboratory outreach initiative in Belize. This initiative is focused on increasing the in-country diagnostic testing capacity for vector-borne diseases and enhancing the current quality assurance/quality control practices in clinical laboratories throughout the country.
News and updates
The latest
The increased prevalence of certain tick- and mosquito-borne illnesses, the benefits of an algorithmic testing approach, and the growing importance of co-infection testing.
The Washington Post recently reported on hookworms burrowing into a teenager's skin during a trip to Florida. Bobbi Pritt, M.D., Director of the Clinical Parasitology Lab and Co-Director of Vector-Borne Diseases Lab Services at Mayo Clinic, commented on the two main types of hookworm: human hookworms and animal, or "zoonotic," hookworms.
On a recent tick drag with Minnesota Department of Health researchers, Bobbi Pritt, M.D., Director of the Clinical Parasitology Lab and Co-Director of Vector-Borne Diseases Lab Services in Mayo Clinic’s Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology, talked about testing for tick-borne diseases.
A Wisconsin woman has died of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in what Wisconsin health officials have confirmed is the first documented death from the infection in the state. Bobbi Pritt, M.D., Director of the Clinical Parasitology Laboratory and Co-Director of Vector-Borne Diseases Lab Services at Mayo Clinic, advises what you should know about Rocky Mountain spotted fever and ticks.
Bobbi Pritt, M.D., Director of the Clinical Parasitology Laboratory and Co-Director of Vector-Borne Diseases Lab Services in Mayo Clinic’s Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, advises how to remove a tick quickly and correctly.
Bobbi Pritt, M.D., Director of the Clinical Parasitology Lab and Co-Director of Vector-Borne Diseases Lab Services in Mayo Clinic’s Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology, recently spoke with the Post-Bulletin about Lyme disease and West Nile virus and how to avoid them this summer.
The "Mpls-St Paul" magazine article highlights Bobbi Pritt, M.D., Director of the Clinical Parasitology Lab and Co-Director of Vector-Borne Diseases Lab Services in Mayo Clinic’s Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology, and her research on ticks and parasites.
Bobbi Pritt, M.D., spends her work hours identifying and diagnosing infectious diseases. In her free time, she celebrates their beauty by creating bug-related artwork and blogging about parasites.
On the June 2 broadcast of Mayo Clinic Radio, co-hosts Tracy McCray and Tom Shives, M.D., spoke with Bobbi Pritt, M.D., Director of the Mayo Clinic Clinical Parasitology Lab, about common tick-borne diseases and how to prevent them.
In this Mayo Clinic Radio "Health Minute," Bobbi Pritt, M.D., Director of the Clinical Parasitology Lab and Co-Director of Vector-Borne Diseases Lab Services at Mayo Clinic, explains how the lone star tick's bite can cause an allergic reaction to meat.
It's time to start preparing for what could be a bumper crop of ticks across the U.S. As the last of the winter's snow melts, ticks start coming up from under the grass looking for a blood meal. In this Mayo Clinic Minute, Dr. Bobbi Pritt, a Mayo Clinic parasitic diseases expert, explains an easy trick to remember the best ways to protect yourself from tick bites.
Illnesses caused by disease-infected ticks, mosquitoes, and fleas have tripled in the U.S. in recent years, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lyme disease is the most common illness attributed to ticks.
The Rochester Post-Bulletin recently highlighted Bobbi Pritt, M.D.'s, “Creepy, Dreadful, Wonderful Parasites” blog, which celebrated its 10-year anniversary in October with a parasite-themed art contest and giveaways.
References
- World malaria report 2021 (who.int)
- Final Cumulative Maps and Data | West Nile Virus | CDC