scholarly journals Earth Observation-Informed Risk Maps of the Lyme Disease Vector Ixodes scapularis in Central and Eastern Canada

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 524
Author(s):  
Serge Olivier Kotchi ◽  
Catherine Bouchard ◽  
Stéphanie Brazeau ◽  
Nicholas H. Ogden
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Ixodes Scapularis ◽  
Simple Algorithm ◽  
Earth Observation ◽  
Degree Days ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
Risk Maps ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Using Data

Climate change is facilitating the geographic range expansion of populations of the tick vector of Lyme disease Ixodes scapularis in Canada. Here, we characterize and map the spatio-temporal variability of environments suitable for I. scapularis using Earth observation (EO) data. A simple algorithm for I. scapularis occurrence (cumulative degree-days and forest: CSDF) was developed by combining cumulative annual surface degree-days above 0 °C and forest cover. To map the environmental risk of I. scapularis (risk of I. scapularis: RIS) in central and eastern Canada from 2000 to 2015, CSDF was adjusted using data from an I. scapularis population model. CSDF was validated using cumulative annual degree days >0 °C (CADD) from meteorological stations, and CSDF was strongly associated with CADD (n = 52, R2 > 0.86, p < 0.001). Data on field surveillance for I. scapularis ticks (2008 to 2018) were used to validate the risk maps. The presence of I. scapularis ticks was significantly associated with CSDF, and at a limit of 2800, sensitivity approached 100%. RIS increased over the study period, with the highest values in 2012 and the lowest in 2000. The RIS was on average higher in Ontario and Quebec compared to other provinces, and it was higher in the southern parts of the provinces. The proportion of the populated areas with a positive RIS increased on average in central and eastern Canada from 2000 to 2015. Predicted I. scapularis occurrence identifies areas with a more probable risk of tick bites, Lyme disease, and other I. scapularis-borne diseases, which can help guide targeted surveillance, prevention, and control interventions.

scholarly journals Risk maps for range expansion of the Lyme disease vector, Ixodes scapularis, in Canada now and with climate change

2008 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas H Ogden ◽  
Laurie St-Onge ◽  
Ian K Barker ◽  
Stephanie Brazeau ◽  
Michel Bigras-Poulin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Range Expansion ◽  
Ixodes Scapularis ◽  
Disease Vector ◽  
Risk Maps

scholarly journals Extensive Distribution of the Lyme Disease Bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato, in Multiple Tick Species Parasitizing Avian and Mammalian Hosts across Canada

Healthcare ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 131 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Scott ◽  
Kerry Clark ◽  
Janet Foley ◽  
John Anderson ◽  
Bradley Bierman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽  
Tick Species ◽  
Ixodes Scapularis ◽  
Borrelia Burgdorferi Sensu Lato ◽  
Emergency Rooms ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
New Host ◽  
Maintenance Cycle ◽  
Passerella Iliaca

Lyme disease, caused by the spirochetal bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl), is typically transmitted by hard-bodied ticks (Acari: Ixodidae). Whenever this tick-borne zoonosis is mentioned in medical clinics and emergency rooms, it sparks a firestorm of controversy. Denial often sets in, and healthcare practitioners dismiss the fact that this pathogenic spirochetosis is present in their area. For distribution of Bbsl across Canada, we conducted a 4-year, tick–host study (2013–2016), and collected ticks from avian and mammalian hosts from Atlantic Canada to the West Coast. Overall, 1265 ticks representing 27 tick species belonging to four genera were collected. Of the 18 tick species tested, 15 species (83%) were positive for Bbsl and, of these infected ticks, 6 species bite humans. Overall, 13 of 18 tick species tested are human-biting ticks. Our data suggest that a 6-tick, enzootic maintenance cycle of Bbsl is present in southwestern B.C., and five of these tick species bite humans. Biogeographically, the groundhog tick, Ixodes cookei, has extended its home range from central and eastern Canada to southwestern British Columbia (B.C.). We posit that the Fox Sparrow, Passerella iliaca, is a reservoir-competent host for Bbsl. The Bay-breasted Warbler, Setophaga castanea, and the Tennessee Warbler, Vermivora peregrina, are new host records for the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis. We provide the first report of a Bbsl-positive Amblyomma longirostre larva parasitizing a bird; this bird parasitism suggests that a Willow Flycatcher is a competent reservoir of Bbsl. Our findings show that Bbsl is present in all provinces, and that multiple tick species are implicated in the enzootic maintenance cycle of this pathogen. Ultimately, Bbsl poses a serious public health contagion Canada-wide.

scholarly journals Correlations Between Environmental Factors and Increasing Lyme Disease Incidence in Canada

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S342-S343
Author(s):  
Jues Koffi ◽  
Salima Gasmi
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Ixodes Scapularis ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Surveillance Data ◽  
Risk Indicator ◽  
Passive Surveillance ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
Risk Areas

Abstract Background Lyme disease (LD) is an emerging infectious disease in Canada due to northward expansion of the geographic range of Ixodes scapularis, the principal tick vector for the LD agent Borrelia burgdorferi, into central and eastern Canada. This study aims to i) summarize the surveillance data for LD cases reported in Canada between 2009 and 2015, ii) identify potential environmental risk factors and iii) develop an acarological risk indicator from passive surveillance for occurrence of human cases. Methods We described the distribution, trends, demographic and clinical characteristics of cases of the disease. Logistic regression models were used to identify risk factors for the occurrence of LD: 1) demographic (age and sex), and 2) environmental (type of forest cover, temperature and abundance of ticks). Passive surveillance data were used to develop an acarological indicator of at-risk areas for LD. Results The number of reported LD cases increased more than six-fold overall, from 144 cases in 2009 to 917 cases in 2015, mainly due to locally acquired infections. LD incidence in Nova Scotia has risen sharply since 2013 and was the highest in Canada over the study period. Children below 15 years and adults of the 55–74 age groups reported highest incidence. Significantly more men than women were infected and men had significantly more symptoms of late disseminated LD than women. Variability in clinical manifestations is observed between provinces, years, for children below 15 years and between age groups. The majority of cases were reported between April and November and there was an increase in risk areas. The abundance of Ixodes scapularis ticks collected on humans and deciduous forest cover were significantly associated with the occurrence of LD cases at the municipality scale. Passive surveillance provides a cost-effective alert tool for public health authorities to timely identify risk areas and target vulnerable populations and front-line health professionals by means of awareness campaigns. Conclusion These findings showed that LD continues to increase in Canada, both over time and geographically, underlining the need to implement better preventive strategies, early disease recognition and treatment and efficient surveillance systems. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

scholarly journals Landscape features predict the current and forecast the future geographic spread of Lyme disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1941) ◽  
pp. 20202278
Author(s):  
Allison M. Gardner ◽  
Natalie C. Pawlikowski ◽  
Sarah A. Hamer ◽  
Graham J. Hickling ◽  
James R. Miller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Human Disease ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Ixodes Scapularis ◽  
Predictive Capability ◽  
Spatial Factors ◽  
Tick Vector ◽  
Geographic Spread ◽  
Vector Borne

Lyme disease, the most prevalent vector-borne disease in North America, is increasing in incidence and geographic distribution as the tick vector, Ixodes scapularis , spreads to new regions. We re-construct the spatial-temporal invasion of the tick and human disease in the Midwestern US, a major focus of Lyme disease transmission, from 1967 to 2018, to analyse the influence of spatial factors on the geographic spread. A regression model indicates that three spatial factors—proximity to a previously invaded county, forest cover and adjacency to a river—collectively predict tick occurrence. Validation of the predictive capability of this model correctly predicts counties invaded or uninvaded with 90.6% and 98.5% accuracy, respectively. Reported incidence increases in counties after the first report of the tick; based on this modelled relationship, we identify 31 counties where we suspect I. scapularis already occurs yet remains undetected. Finally, we apply the model to forecast tick establishment by 2021 and predict 42 additional counties where I. scapularis will probably be detected based upon historical drivers of geographic spread. Our findings leverage resources dedicated to tick and human disease reporting and provide the opportunity to take proactive steps (e.g. educational efforts) to prevent and limit transmission in areas of future geographic spread.

Evidence for genetic hybridization between Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes cookei

2017 ◽  
Vol 95 (8) ◽  
pp. 527-537 ◽  
Author(s):  
James W. Patterson ◽  
Anna M. Duncan ◽  
Kelsey C. McIntyre ◽  
Vett K. Lloyd
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Genetic Analysis ◽  
New Brunswick ◽  
Nuclear Dna ◽  
Ixodes Scapularis ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Genetic Introgression ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
As Species ◽  
Intermediate Traits

Ixodes scapularis Say, 1821 (the black-legged tick) is becoming established in Canada. The northwards expansion of I. scapularis leads to contact between I. scapularis and Ixodes cookei Packard, 1869, a well-established tick species in Eastern Canada. Examination of I. cookei and I. scapularis collected from New Brunswick revealed ticks with ambiguous morphologies, with either a mixture or intermediate traits typical of I. scapularis and I. cookei, including in characteristics typically used as species identifiers. Genetic analysis to determine if these ticks represent hybrids revealed that four had I. cookei derived mitochondrial DNA but I. scapularis nuclear DNA. In one case, the nuclear sequence showed evidence of heterozygosity for I. scapularis and I. cookei sequences, whereas in the others, the nuclear DNA appeared to be entirely derived from I. scapularis. These data strongly suggest genetic hybridization between these two species. Ixodes cookei and hybrid ticks were readily collected from humans and companion animals and specimens infected with Borrelia burgdorferi Johnson et al., 1984, the causative agent of Lyme disease, were identified. These findings raise the issue of genetic introgression of I. scapularis genes into I. cookei and warrant reassessment of the capacity of I. cookei and I. cookei × I. scapularis hybrids to vector Borrelia infection.

Spatio-Temporal Modeling for Confirmed Cases of Lyme Disease in Virginia

2021 ◽  
pp. 101822
Author(s):  
Naresh Neupane ◽  
Ari Goldbloom-Helzner ◽  
Ali Arab
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Temporal Modeling ◽  
Spatio Temporal

High SNP density in the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, the principal vector of Lyme disease spirochetes

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 63-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janice Van Zee ◽  
William C. Black ◽  
Michael Levin ◽  
Jerome Goddard ◽  
Joshua Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Ixodes Scapularis ◽  
Principal Vector ◽  
Blacklegged Tick

scholarly journals Human Coinfection withBorrelia burgdorferiandBabesia microtiin the United States

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen L. Knapp ◽  
Nancy A. Rice
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Causative Agent ◽  
Ixodes Scapularis ◽  
Immunological Response ◽  
The United States ◽  
Babesia Microti ◽  
Current State ◽  
Tick Borne Disease ◽  
Multiple Pathogens

Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, andBabesia microti, a causative agent of babesiosis, are increasingly implicated in the growing tick-borne disease burden in the northeastern United States. These pathogens are transmitted via the bite of an infected tick vector,Ixodes scapularis, which is capable of harboring and inoculating a host with multiple pathogens simultaneously. Clinical presentation of the diseases is heterogeneous and ranges from mild flu-like symptoms to near-fatal cardiac arrhythmias. While the reason for the variability is not known, the possibility exists that concomitant infection with bothB. burgdorferiandB. microtimay synergistically increase disease severity. In an effort to clarify the current state of understanding regarding coinfection withB. burgdorferiandB. microti, in this review, we discuss the geographical distribution and pathogenesis of Lyme disease and babesiosis in the United States, the immunological response of humans toB. burgdorferiorB. microtiinfection, the existing knowledge regarding coinfection disease pathology, and critical factors that have led to ambiguity in the literature regarding coinfection, in order to eliminate confusion in future experimental design and investigation.

Infections Caused by Spirochetes: Syphilis, Lyme Disease, Leptospirosis

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Duff
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Latent Infection ◽  
Congenital Syphilis ◽  
Ixodes Scapularis ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Erythema Migrans ◽  
Treponema Pallidum ◽  
Mild Disease ◽  
Drug Of Choice ◽  
In Pregnancy

Syphilis is caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum. It is classified as primary, secondary, tertiary, and latent infection. If left untreated, syphilis can cause devastating injury to the fetus. The drug of choice for treatment of syphilis in pregnancy is penicillin. Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted by the Ixodes scapularis tick. The principal clinical manifestation of Lyme disease is erythema migrans, but patients may also develop arthritis and cardiac and neurologic abnormalities. Congenital Lyme disease has not been reported. The drug of choice for treatment of Lyme disease in pregnancy is amoxicillin. Leptospirosis is usually acquired from direct contact with urine of infected animals or through contaminated water, soil, or vegetation. Pregnant women with mild disease should be treated with oral amoxicillin. Patients with severe disease should be hospitalized and treated with intravenous penicillin or ampicillin. This review contains 5 figures, 5 tables, and 19 references. Key Words: clinical infection, congenital syphilis, latent infection, leptospirosis, Lyme disease, syphilis

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