Mosquito commission offers tick identification and testing service
As part of Monmouth County's Tickborne Diseases Program, resi dents who find a tick can bring it to the Monmouth County Mosquito Commission's (MCMC) office in Tinton Falls to have it identified and analyzed for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

"The tick identification and test ing service is meant to serve as a first alert for people receiving a tick bite," said Sean Healy, ento mologist for the Tick-borne Diseases Program. "This is very im portant as we enter the peak time for Lyme disease transmission. Since we initiated the identifica tion and testing service in the fall of 2005 we have processed nearly 800 specimens."

Monmouth County residents who get a tick bite can bring it to the MCMC office in Tinton Falls for identification and testing. The ticks will be tested by MCMC per - sonnel for the presence of the Lyme disease bacterium. A $25 fee will be charged to cover the cost of the laboratory testing.

There are three common tick types in Monmouth County: the black-legged tick (also known as a deer tick), the lone star tick and the American dog tick. Of these, only black-legged ticks play a role in transmitting the Lyme disease bacterium (Borrelia burgdorferi) to humans and pets.

The MCMC will not remove the tick from individuals or offer any medical diagnosis. Ticks can be brought dead or alive to the MCMC office for identification and test ing. The MCMC specializes in ticks and mosquitoes and the diseases they transmit. Tick reports will in dicate the type of tick and other useful information about the tick, as well as whether it was infected with the Lyme disease bacterium.

Residents can take these reports to their physician or retain them as part of their medical record. In addition to Lyme disease, there are other tick-borne diseases in Monmouth County that people and their health-care providers must be aware of, according to the press re lease.

"A Monmouth County freehold ers resolution specifically desig nated the MCMC to provide surveil lance, education, training and rec ommendations on integrated man - agement of the vectors of Lyme dis ease and other tick-borne pathogens," said Douglas L. Guthrie Sr., superintendent of the mosquito commission. "The tick identifica tion and testing service will help reduce the risk of Lyme disease to the residents of Monmouth County."

Residents who wish to have a tick identified and tested do not have to make an appointment. The MCMC can be visited Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. The commis sion's office is at 1901 Wayside Road, Tinton Falls.

Those with a tick to be identified and tested can fill out a form and use the tick submission kit provided at the MCMC. They will be con tacted with the results via tele phone as well as provided with a written report.

Additional information regard ing ticks and tick-borne diseases can be found at www.visitmonmouth.com/mosquito or by calling the mosquito commis sion at (732) 542-3630.