Environmental risk from Lyme disease in central and eastern Canada: a summary of recent surveillance information

Abstract

Background: Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne disease in the temperate world. It is emerging in central and eastern Canada due to spread of the tick vector Ixodes scapularis into and within Canada to form new areas of environmental risk known as Lyme disease-endemic areas. Identifying the geographic location of Lyme disease-endemic areas is important to identify the population at risk, target interventions, and inform the clinical diagnosis of Lyme disease patients.

Surveillance for Lyme disease in Canada: 2009–2015

“…Lyme disease is transmitted by blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis, in central and eastern Canada and Ixodes pacificus in western Canada (1). Lyme disease is a multisystem infection that is manifested by progressive stages (2).…”

“…In 2004, approximately 40 human cases of Lyme disease were reported in Canada (1). In 2009, Lyme disease became nationally notifiable, with provincial and territorial health departments reporting clinician-diagnosed cases to the Canadian Notifiable …”

Surveillance de la maladie de Lyme au Canada, de 2009 à 2012

“…La surveillance des tiques (3,14,15) indique que la population d'Ixodes scapularis élargit sa portée géographique au Canada et près d'un quart des cas de la maladie de Lyme au stade disséminé ont été contractés dans des zones non connues comme étant endémiques (et étaient des cas probables P1). Toutefois, la plupart de ces cas sont survenus dans des zones où les populations d'I.…”

Surveillance for Lyme Disease in Canada, 2009-2012

“…ticks 1 in their woodland habitats 2 . LD risk in Canada occurs where tick vectors are established in southern British Columbia (I. pacificus) and in southern parts of central and eastern Canada where I. scapularis is spreading from the United States (US) 3 . LD became nationally notifiable in Canada in 2009 and demographic data on human cases is submitted by provinces to Canadian Notifiable Disease Surveillance System of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).…”