Self-reported tick exposure as an indicator of Lyme disease risk in an endemic region of Quebec, Canada

Author:

Bowser, N, Bouchard, C, Castellanos, M, Baron, G, Carabin, H, Chuard, P, Leighton, PA, Milord, F, Savage, J, and Aenishaenslin, C

Publication type:

Journal Article

Publication date:

2023-10

Journal/Series title:

Ticks Tick Borne Dis

Volume:

Issue:

URL:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877959X23001528?via%3Dihub

Abstract:

Self-reported tick exposure ranged from 0.0 % to 61.5 % (median 8.9 %) and reported LD incidence rates ranged from 0 to 324 cases per 100,000 person-years, per CSD. A positive association was found between self-reported tick exposure and LD incidence proportion (ß = 0.08, CI = 0.04,0.11, p < 0.0001). The best-fit model included public health risk level (AIC: 144.2), followed by predicted tick density, ecological variables, self-reported tick exposure and eTick submissions (AIC: 158.4, 158.4, 160.4 and 170.1 respectively). Predicted tick density was the only significant predictor of self-reported tick exposure (ß = 0.83, CI = 0.16,1.50, p = 0.02).