The Search for Ixodes dammini and Borrelia burgdorferi in Nova Scotia

Abstract

CR BELL, HB SPECHT, BA CooMBs. T he search f or Ixodes dammini and Borre lia burgdoife ri i n Nova Scotia. Can J Infect Dis 1992;3(5): 224·230.1\venty-four Ixodes dammini ticks (23 adu lts and one nymph) have been recovered in Nova Scotia since 1984. There has not been a systematic search for larvae and none has been identified. The recovery of the nymph from a road-killed yellow U1roat bird. Geothypis trichas. in late May 1990 supports U1e contention U1at migrating birds are bringing deer ticks into U1e province every spring. In March and April 1991 . four adult deer ticks were identified. suggesting U1al these ticks had overwintered. These deer Lick specimens indicate U1at il is possible that I dammini is becoming established in Nova Scotia. if il is not already established. There has been no evidence for the existence of Borrelia burgdorjeri in U1e province. The spirochete was not cultured from 650 Dermacentor variabilis ticks. nor were antibodies detected in a small san1ple of feral rodents using an indirect fluorescent antibody lesl. A survey of 137 dog sera san1ples. analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. a lso proved negative . There has been no confirmed indigenous case of Lyme disease in Nova Scotia to dale. Fi e ld site 6Field site 3.. T ICK-BORNE LYME DISEASE WAS RECOGNIZED AND C HARACterized in North America in the early 1970s (1 .2). There have now been thousands of cases reported throughout the contiguous United Stales which have contributed to the presen t awareness of the e tiology and epidemiology of the d isease in the United Stales (3.4). Information on the disease in Canada is nol as complete.The first case of Lyme disease in Canada was diagnosed in 1977 (5), and at a sympos ium on Lyme d isease in Canada conducted at the Un iversity of Guelph in January 1991 (6). it was revealed U1al 65 indigenous cases of th e d isease had been reported to the Laboratory Centre for Disease Control in the previous seven years (personal communication). Fifty-four of U1ese cases were limited to Ontario. with only one case occurring in the Maritimes, in New Bru nswick (7). However. there has been some concern expressed by health professionals about the potential for the disease in Nova Scotia largely because of the proximity to disease foci in the state of Maine (8) dammini ticks into the province each spring (9). Certainly because of the very la rge numbers of Dermacen· tor variabiLis ticks in Nova Scotia (10). introduced at the turn of the century. U1ere is palpable concern an1ong the general public. These factors p rovided the impetus in 1984 for this continuing search for the Lyme disease agent. BorreLia burgdor:feri. and the vector. I dammini. in Nova Scotia. MATERIALS AND METHODS Collection of D variabilis:In the summer of 1988 licks were collected from seven field sites within the area endemic forD var iab ilis in south western Nova Scotia. Adults were collected using a 0 .5 nlllag dragged over vegetation along roadsides and clearings near woods. The boundaries of the area sampled were establish...

Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp. and Dirofilaria immitis in Canadian dogs, 2008 to 2015: a repeat cross-sectional study

“…This technique has been used to monitor for pathogen prevalence in dogs in the USA and Canada over the past decade [5, 12, 13]. Reported prevalence of canine vector-borne pathogens in Canada has varied by study, with respect to variation in geography (local and regional), year performed and test methodology [5, 14–18]. One publication using data contained within our study period (2013–2014), estimated national canine seroprevalence for B. burgdorferi as 2.5% based on 115,636 tests [5].…”

A framework for adaptive surveillance of emerging tick-borne zoonoses

“…This represented the first major step in addressing the potential risk of disease in the country. Previously, only Ontario, Manitoba and Nova Scotia had conducted some tick surveillance [[87], [88], [89]]. Consensus statements for epidemiology, epizootiology, clinical disease and laboratory diagnostics were developed, and rigorous criteria were established for surveillance [86].…”