Locomoting Disease-Bearing Colonizers: Omen of Ticks Spread Over Canada

Ticks carrying Lyme disease are observed by researchers while they colonize Canada, but their research aims to forecast the communities highly likely to be affected by this sickness. "Our findings will help community groups and government agencies to alert the Canadians who may be at risk of picking up Lyme disease - those of us who like to visit the outdoors in spring and summer, when nymphal ticks are active but difficult to spot because of their size," said lead author Patrick Leighton of the University of Montreal's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Nymphal ticks are ticks that have not yet reached full maturity. "Identifying where the ticks are setting up home helps pinpoint where Lyme disease risk will occur before people start getting the disease".

Changes in temperature are one of the most important factors that have contributed to the spreading of tick populations across Canada since 1990. As average temperatures continue to increase over the coming decades, the area where ticks may live and reproduce will continue to reach further north. Lyme-transmitting ticks were virtually unknown in Canada in 1990, but today they may be found in areas where 18% of the country's population lives. This figure will rise to 80% in eastern Canada by 2020, according to the researchers' findings.

The parasites travel long-distance from the United States to settle new areas by attaching themselves to migratory birds, and once they have arrived, they colonize local areas by feeding on deer and small animals such as mice, squirrels and chipmunks.

The researchers' prediction model was partially built on citizen participation and it was confirmed by research that was literally undertaken in the field. Pet owners bring ticks to their family veterinarians, who are then able to provide data to public health officials regarding where the parasites were found.

Other studies have also been contributing to understanding the information in the database. "The data paint a useful picture of where and when ticks have begun colonizing different regions, identifying geographic hotspots," Leighton explained. "We visited field sites in these areas and very simply dragged blankets along the ground. Sure enough, we found significant tick populations in these areas." The findings were also confirmed by inspecting wild animals likely to carry the ticks.

Ticks themselves do not cause Lyme disease, but can pass on the infection when they bite. Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics and its symptoms include circular rashes and flu-like symptoms. Left untreated, it can have serious consequences but, say the researchers, people who visit the outdoors can protect themselves by wearing appropriate clothing or applying DEET-based insect repellents.

"This model provides us with an idea of where Lyme disease is likely to spread in the future, because the ticks eventually start to carry the bug that causes Lyme," Leighton said. "In the future it will be useful to build a model that reveals how quickly the disease will spread amongst these new tick populations."

The findings were published in the British Ecological Society's Journal of Applied Ecology on 6 March 2012.

Source: Eurekalert

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is acquired through the bite of a tick that is infected with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi.

New Map Exactly Locates Areas of Utmost Human Risk for Lyme Disease In Eastern United States

A new map exactly locates distinct areas of the Eastern United States where humans have the highest risk of contracting Lyme disease, one of the rapidly emerging infectious diseases in North America.

More Lyme Disease Cases Reported

Cases of Lyme Disease, a weakening condition caused by blood-sucking ticks in Scotland's Highlands have been on the increase in Tayside, reports a team from Dundee's Ninewells Hospital.

Research Reveals Lyme Disease Bacteria Take Cover in Lymph Nodes

Researchers at the University of California, Davis say that the bacteria that cause Lyme disease appear to hide out in the lymph nodes

Babesiosis

Babesiosis is an infection caused by transmission of Babesia parasites from animals to humans. It may be diagnosed with blood smears, immunological tests and treated with drugs or blood transfusions.

Congo Fever

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a viral disease that affects people who are bitten by infected ticks or those in direct contact with blood or tissues of infected animals or patients.