At the end of 2018, we launched an educational webpage designed to give an overview of bartonellosis and emphasize how the acute and chronic disease manifestations differ. The webpage has been converted into a brochure that we encourage you to share with friends, family members, colleagues, and anyone else who may be interested in learning […]
What are nonspecific findings and symptoms? Why are they important in an emerging disease?
Nonspecific findings and symptoms can be caused by a variety of health conditions, so the puzzle of finding their origins can leave people sick but undiagnosed for years or even a lifetime. The existence of nonspecific findings and symptoms highlights the importance of research that advances the ability to diagnose illness quickly and accurately. A […]
PCR Testing is Important for Identifying Viral Pathogens That Lead to Non-Specific Symptoms
Viruses are simple in structure and function compared to bacteria or unicellular parasites, yet their presence often leads to identifiable disease patterns as well as nonspecific symptoms for both humans and animals. Like other pathogens, viruses are detected and characterized from patient samples using various testing techniques. Introduction Viruses are infectious particles that rely on […]
Why does so much money go toward counting mice?
Individuals eager to see funding for better treatments for tick-borne disease can be frustrated to see research dollars going toward studies counting mice. Why do public health research funds go to studying wild mice? Mice and other mammals are a crucial part of disease transmission that involves fleas and ticks. A common misconception is that […]
Why Does Sample Temperature Affect Test Validity?
Our staff is often asked, “Why is a frozen icepack necessary for sample shipments?” The short answer is that test results are less reliable when samples experience temperature fluctuations in transit. Here’s the long answer… Galaxy Diagnostics currently offers two types of diagnostic testing for flea- and tick-borne pathogens: molecular and serology. Molecular assays, such […]
Zoonotic Diseases and Why We Are So Interested in Bats
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 75% of new human diseases discovered in the last decade are caused by zoonotic pathogens. The bat is a host that is uniquely perfect to evolve pathogens that are dangerous to people. One Health is an outlook that brings animal health, human health and environmental experts together to […]
