The Troublesome Ticks Research Protocol: Developing a Comprehensive, Multidiscipline Research Plan for Investigating Human Tick-Associated Disease in Australia
Amanda D. Barbosa,
Michelle Long,
Wenna Lee,
Jill M. Austen,
Mike Cunneen,
Andrew Ratchford,
Brian Burns,
Prasad Kumarasinghe,
Rym Ben-Othman,
Tobias R. Kollmann,
Cameron R. Stewart,
Miles Beaman,
Rhys Parry,
Roy Hall,
Ala Tabor,
Justine O’Donovan,
Helen M. Faddy,
Marjorie Collins,
Allen C. Cheng,
John Stenos,
Stephen Graves,
Charlotte L. Oskam,
Una M. Ryan,
Peter J. Irwin
Affiliations
Amanda D. Barbosa
Centre for Biosecurity and One Health, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
Michelle Long
Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, University Hospital Geelong, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
Wenna Lee
Centre for Biosecurity and One Health, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
Jill M. Austen
Centre for Biosecurity and One Health, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
Mike Cunneen
The App Workshop Pty Ltd., Perth, WA 6000, Australia
Andrew Ratchford
Emergency Department, Northern Beaches Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2086, Australia
Brian Burns
Emergency Department, Northern Beaches Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2086, Australia
Prasad Kumarasinghe
School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
Rym Ben-Othman
Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
Tobias R. Kollmann
Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
Cameron R. Stewart
CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
Miles Beaman
PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
Rhys Parry
School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
Roy Hall
School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
Ala Tabor
Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, Centre of Animal Science, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
Justine O’Donovan
Clinical Services and Research, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Sydney, NSW 2015, Australia
Helen M. Faddy
Clinical Services and Research, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Sydney, NSW 2015, Australia
Marjorie Collins
School of Psychology, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
Allen C. Cheng
School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
John Stenos
Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, University Hospital Geelong, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
Stephen Graves
Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, University Hospital Geelong, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
Charlotte L. Oskam
Centre for Biosecurity and One Health, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
Una M. Ryan
Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
Peter J. Irwin
Centre for Biosecurity and One Health, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
In Australia, there is a paucity of data about the extent and impact of zoonotic tick-related illnesses. Even less is understood about a multifaceted illness referred to as Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks (DSCATT). Here, we describe a research plan for investigating the aetiology, pathophysiology, and clinical outcomes of human tick-associated disease in Australia. Our approach focuses on the transmission of potential pathogens and the immunological responses of the patient after a tick bite. The protocol is strengthened by prospective data collection, the recruitment of two external matched control groups, and sophisticated integrative data analysis which, collectively, will allow the robust demonstration of associations between a tick bite and the development of clinical and pathological abnormalities. Various laboratory analyses are performed including metagenomics to investigate the potential transmission of bacteria, protozoa and/or viruses during tick bite. In addition, multi-omics technology is applied to investigate links between host immune responses and potential infectious and non-infectious disease causations. Psychometric profiling is also used to investigate whether psychological attributes influence symptom development. This research will fill important knowledge gaps about tick-borne diseases. Ultimately, we hope the results will promote improved diagnostic outcomes, and inform the safe management and treatment of patients bitten by ticks in Australia.
