Monitoring Risk: Tick and Borrelia burgdorferi Public Participatory Surveillance in the Canadian Maritimes, 2012-2020
Title | Monitoring Risk: Tick and Borrelia burgdorferi Public Participatory Surveillance in the Canadian Maritimes, 2012-2020 |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2021 |
Journal | Pathogens |
Volume | 10 |
Issue | 10 |
Start Page | 1284 |
Date Published | 10/2021 |
Authors | Lewis J, Kirby AM, Harris KD, Filiaggi CL, Foley-Eby AH, Mann M, Lieske DJ, Lloyd VK |
Keywords | borrelia, Canada, Dermacentor variabilis, Ixodes cookei, Ixodes scapularis, surveillance, ticks |
Abstract | Ticks are vectors of many diseases, including Lyme disease (Ld). Lyme disease is an emerging disease in Canada caused by infection with the Lyme borreliosis (Lb) members of the Borrelia genus of spirochaete bacteria, of which Borrelia burgdorferi is regionally the most prevalent. The primary tick vector in central and eastern Canada, Ixodes scapularis, is increasing in numbers and in the geographical extent of established populations. This study documents the distribution of ticks recovered by passive surveillance, and their B. burgdorferi infection prevalence, in three Canadian Maritime provinces from 2012-2020. These regions represent areas in which tick populations are widely established, establishing, and considered non-established. Using a community science approach by partnering with veterinarians and members of the public, we collected over 7000 ticks from the 3 provinces. |
URL | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/10/1284 |