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Monitoring of Nesting Songbirds Detects Established Population of Blacklegged Ticks and Associated Lyme Disease Endemic Area in Canada
oleh: John D. Scott, Emily L. Pascoe, Muhammad S. Sajid, Janet E. Foley
Format: | Article |
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Diterbitkan: | MDPI AG 2020-03-01 |
Deskripsi
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 Québec, 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.