Risk factors for Lyme disease resulting from residential exposure amidst emerging Ixodes scapularis populations: A neighbourhood-level analysis of Ottawa, Ontario
Title | Risk factors for Lyme disease resulting from residential exposure amidst emerging Ixodes scapularis populations: A neighbourhood-level analysis of Ottawa, Ontario |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2023 |
Journal | PLoS One |
Volume | 18 |
Issue | 8 |
Start Page | e0290463 |
Date Published | 08/2023 |
Authors | Logan JJ, Hoi AG, Sawada M, Knudby AJ, Ramsay T, Blanford JI, Ogden NH, Kulkarni MA |
Keywords | Canada, epidemiology, forests, Lyme disease, medical risk factors, neighborhoods, public and occupational health, ticks |
Abstract | Among Ottawa neighbourhoods, the combined effect of forest shape complexity and average forest patch size was associated with higher residential Lyme disease incidence (P<0.001). These findings suggest that Lyme disease risk in residential settings is associated with urban design elements. This is particularly relevant in urban centres where local ecological changes may impact the presence of emerging tick populations and how residents interact with tick habitat. Further research into the mechanistic underpinnings of these associations would be an asset to both urban development planning and public health management. |
URL | https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0290463 |