Scientists use clean ticks to sniff out hidden lyme infection

NCT ID NCT01143558

Completed Knowledge-focused Sponsor: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Aug 05, 2026 · Updated 6 times

Summary

This study tested whether clean, lab-bred ticks could find leftover Lyme bacteria in people who had been treated with antibiotics. 45 participants, including those with recent or past Lyme disease and healthy volunteers, had ticks placed on their skin for a few days. The goal was to see if this method, called xenodiagnosis, is safe and can detect bacteria that standard tests miss, helping explain why some people continue to have symptoms after treatment.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Xenodiagnosis using clean laboratory-bred ticks
What this could lead to: If successful, this method could help detect lingering Lyme bacteria, guiding better treatment for patients with persistent symptoms.
What could go wrong: This is a very early, small study focused on testing a diagnostic method, not a treatment. It may not prove useful or safe for widespread use.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Lyme disease

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

LYME DISEASE

Contacts and locations

Locations

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
Tufts University

Boston, Massachusetts, 01536, United States
Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut, 06510-8005, United States

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