LYME DISEASE

Wed, 02/10/2024 by vanessa farnsworth

Lyme disease is a complex multi-system inflammatory illness that's caused by the bite of a tick infected with one of several closely related species of borrelia bacteria, including Borrelia burgdorferi which is responsible for the majority of cases in Canada. Lyme disease is, by far, the most common tick-borne illness in Canada and is pretty much the only one most Canadians can name.

That said, our understanding of Lyme disease in Canada is in its infancy and, much to the frustration of a great many patients, the unknowns far outweigh the knowns.

Squirrel tick (Ixodes marxi)

Mon, 30/09/2024 by vanessa farnsworth

Little is known about squirrel ticks but, as their name suggests, they feed primarily on tree squirrels and, to a lesser extent, on snowshoe hares. They also feed on animals that prey on squirrels. The many records from the Maritimes through to Ontario suggest these ticks are well established in much of Eastern Canada.

Winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus)

Tue, 11/06/2024 by vanessa farnsworth

The winter or moose tick (Dermacentor albipictus) is a large reddish-brown to grey-brown tick that's similar in appearance to other dermacentor tick species (American dog ticks, Rocky Mountain wood ticks) found in Canada and inhabits an extensive geographic area that includes every Canadian province and territory. The farthest north they've been found is southern Yukon.

Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis)

Fri, 26/04/2024 by vanessa farnsworth

Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis)

The Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) is not native to Canada but it has started to cause concerns in this country.

Once confined to Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Russia and several Pacific islands, Asian longhorned ticks were detected for the first time in the wilds of New Jersey in 2017 after occasionally turning up on imported animals at American seaports. Thanks to some entomological detective work, we now know that Asian longhorned ticks have been making their home in New Jersey since as far back as 2013. And they’re spreading fast. Between 2013 and 2023, breeding populations went from non-existent to spanning at least 19 US states.

Coastal bird tick (Ixodes auritulus)

Thu, 21/03/2024 by vanessa farnsworth

California quail

First described in 1899, the coastal bird tick is native to BC. However, it's not terribly well studied and little is known about its life history. Early researchers describe it as being fairly common in coastal areas of the province where it mainly feeds on grouse.

What we know about this tick species is largely based on records from more than 50 years ago and scant research in recent years which show that specimens have been collected from at least 10 bird species in BC including sooty grouse and California quail.

Blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis)

Fri, 29/12/2023 by vanessa farnsworth

Blacklegged tick

Although not the most ubiquitous tick species in this country, the blacklegged tick is easily the best known of all Canada's ticks thanks to its role as the primary vector of Lyme disease in Canada east of the Rocky Mountains.

Blacklegged ticks are three-host generalist feeders, meaning that over the course of their journey from egg to larvae to nymph to adult, these ticks must dine on three host vertebrates in order to acquire the blood they need to fuel their transition from one stage to the next.

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