• Mayo Clinic Minute: On the Trail With Tick Researchers

research hands picking up a tick with tweezersThe most common tick-borne sickness in the U.S. is Lyme disease, but there are other lesser-known illnesses that also can be transmitted by a tick bite. And, although they are sometimes overlooked, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says these tick-borne diseases pose an increasing threat to public health.

That's why researchers routinely head into the woods to learn more about ticks. Knowing where they’re living and what pathogens they're carrying could bolster treatment options and strengthen disease prevention techniques.

In this Mayo Clinic Minute, reporter Jeff Olsen tags along with Mayo Clinic parasitic diseases expert Dr. Bobbi Pritt to see how she tracks ticks in the Midwest.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (1:00) is in the downloads. Read the script.