Prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia microti in Ixodes scapularis from a Newly Established Lyme Disease Endemic Area, the Thousand Islands Region of Ontario, Canada.
ProHealth – Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. (2015 Sep 22). [Epub ahead of print]
Abstract
Blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) are vectors for several important human diseases, including Lyme disease, human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA), and human babesiosis, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Babesia microti, respectively. The continued northward range expansion of blacklegged ticks and associated pathogens is an increasing public health concern in Canada.
The Thousand Islands region of eastern Ontario has recently been identified as a new endemic area for Lyme disease in Canada, but the occurrence of other pathogens in ticks in this area has not been fully described. Our objectives were to determine the prevalence of A. phagocytophilum and B. microti in small mammals and questing ticks in the Thousand Islands area and identify the strains of A. phagocytophilum circulating in ticks in the area.
Please can you tell me whether the ‘Thousand Islands Region of Ontario includes Hamilton and Botanical Gardens in Toronto? Two locations where I may have been infected in 1979. I am still severely disabled with multisytstem and organ damage and now with heart and lung damage from Lyme and Coxsackie and no doubt other co-infections. Thank God your research is leading the way to finding a solution to treating the many genospecies that are emerging. It is too late for me, but for the millions of infected (predicted) this is the most deadly and disabling disease on the planet, (personal opinion). I do hope the BMJ, The Lancet (Infectious Diseases) sit up and take heed! I have lost everything to this disease.
As a science graduate, I am always interested in latest research and would dearly love to be involved in finding out everything there is to know about this huge threat to us all. Wishing you all A Happy and healthy New Year and many successes with your research. Patricia Cullen.