Monitoring of Nesting Songbirds Detects Established Population of Blacklegged Ticks and Associated Lyme Disease Endemic Area in Canada

• Main Authors: John D. Scott, Emily L. Pascoe, Muhammad S. Sajid, Janet E. Foley
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-03-01
• Series: Healthcare
• Subjects: songbirds; nesting; fledgling; ticks; established population; <i>ixodes scapularis</i>; <i>haemaphysalis leporispalustris</i>; canada
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/8/1/59

This study provides a novel method of documenting established populations of bird-feeding ticks. Single populations of the blacklegged tick, <i>Ixodes scapularis</i>, and the rabbit tick, <i>Haemaphysalis leporispalustris</i>, were revealed in southwestern Qu&#233;bec, Canada. Blacklegged tick nymphs and, similarly, larval and nymphal rabbit ticks were tested for the Lyme disease bacterium, <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> sensu lato (Bbsl), using PCR and the flagellin (<i>flaB</i>) gene, and 14 (42%) of 33 of blacklegged tick nymphs tested were positive. In contrast, larval and nymphal <i>H. leporsipalustris</i> ticks were negative for Bbsl. The occurrence of Bbsl in <i>I. scapularis</i> nymphs brings to light the presence of a Lyme disease endemic area at this songbird nesting locality. Because our findings denote that this area is a Lyme disease endemic area, and <i>I. scapularis</i> is a human-biting tick, local residents and outdoor workers must take preventive measures to avoid tick bites. Furthermore, local healthcare practitioners must include Lyme disease in their differential diagnosis.