I-Corps: Optical design and the development of high accuracy automated tick classification using computer vision

Abstract The incidence of US tick-borne diseases has more than doubled in the last two decades. Due to lack of effective vaccines for tick-borne diseases, prevention of tick bites remains the primary focus of disease mitigation. Tick vector surveillance - monitoring an area to understand tick species composition, abundance, and spatial distribution - is key to providing the public with accurate and up-to-date information when they are in areas of high risk, and enabling precision vector control when necessary. Vectech is an NIH SBIR phase I awardee seeking to develop the first automated imaging and identification system capable of instantaneously and accurately identifying the top nine tick vectors in the US. The approach of standardized optical design and development of a computer vision system offers several advantages over conventional acarologist identification. This NIH I-Corps project seeks to improve understanding of tick surveillance needs in the US. The proposed I-Corps team will focus on the commercial opportunity to improve clinical decision making for administration of tick bite prophylaxis and enhancing public health information for vector control organizations and the general public. The resulting insights will be incorporated into Vectech’s future research with the aim of bringing a commercial product to market.