The isolation of DNA from ehrlichia chaffeensis coming from individual ticks (amblyomma americanum) using isocade stix

Abstract

This project, The Isolation of DNA from Ehrlichia chaffeensis Coming from IndividualTicks (Amblyomma americanum) Using Isocode Stix®, was designed to determine the presence of Ehrlichia chaffeensis in the hemolymph individual Amblyomma americanum ticks using the Isocode Stix® method. The DNA was extracted from the Isocode Stix® and amplified using nested PCR. The PCR products were then visualized using a 1.5% ethridium bromide agarosegel electrophoresis.When the results from the Isocode Stix® method all came back negative, a CTAB-DNA extraction was performed on the carcasses of the same ticks used in the previous method. This was an attempt to check and see if the Isocode Stix® method was simply not sensitive enough. However, the results again came back all negative.