Studies examining ticks, Lyme disease in NB receive top awards

Mount Allison University biology students Julie Lewis and Jamie Patterson, working with biology professor Dr. Vett Lloyd were both recognized for their work in health sciences at Horizon Health’s recent interprofessional health research conference (iHR), held in Saint John, NB.

The iHR event brings together physicians, medical students and many other health professionals with academic researchers from New Brunswick. Held in the Saint John Regional Hospital all participants, from physicians to undergraduate students, can present and discuss health related research as either posters or in oral presentations.

Lewis, a master’s student at Mount Allison took second place for her poster presentation focusing on the impact of ticks in New Brunswick. Lewis is analyzing NB ticks for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

“In my research, I found infection rates varied from zero to 17 per cent across the province, with the southern and coastal regions having the highest rates. The province-wide infection rate is 12 per cent,” says Lewis. “It was a great opportunity to meet with health professionals and other students to discuss my work.”

Patterson took the top prize for his oral presentation, looking at different species of ticks in New Brunswick. He is studying hybrid tick species and seeking to find out how these new ticks transmit Lyme disease.

“Right now we don't know very much about hybrid ticks or how easily they transmit Lyme disease. This makes it difficult to identify species and risks around them,” says Patterson.

It was both Lewis and Patterson’s first time presenting at this health conference.

“It was a good experience. The focus is different than a traditional research conference,” says Patterson.

Lewis is defending her thesis this summer and is planning to begin her PhD at l’Universite de Moncton next year. Patterson will graduate with his BSc in May and has accepted a one-year position as medical and risk management intern at The Cape Eleuthera Island School, a remote research facility in the Bahamas.

Photo caption (left to right): Master’s student Julie Lewis, Dr. Vett Lloyd, and undergraduate honours biology student Jamie Patterson. Lewis and Patterson both presented at Horizon Health’s recent interprofessional health research conference (iHR), held in Saint John, NB