An investment of $1.2 million from the provincial government will support ongoing research on tick-borne illnesses at a laboratory within Acadia University in Nova Scotia.
Nicoletta Faraone, the head of the Canadian Tick Research and Innovation Centre, emphasized the crucial role of these funds in establishing and expanding the lab’s operations.
The allocated funds will primarily enhance the lab’s surveillance program, focusing on identifying tick species present in the region, the pathogens they carry, and their response to repellents or attractants.
Tick bites can transmit various diseases to humans, including Lyme disease and anaplasmosis.
The lab boasts cutting-edge equipment that will accelerate the pathogen-testing process, contributing to a better understanding of ticks and improved strategies for reducing tick bite exposure, according to Faraone.
The financial support stems from Research Nova Scotia’s Focused Research Initiative, which receives backing from the Department of Advanced Education.
In a statement, Research Nova Scotia CEO Stefan Leslie highlighted the pressing need for research to address tick-borne diseases effectively, emphasizing the importance of translating research findings into practical solutions.
-
Tick-borne illness on the rise in Nova Scotia
-
N.S. vet clinics noticing rise in one tick-borne disease
Recent data from the Public Health Agency of Canada revealed over 5,800 reported cases of Lyme disease nationwide in 2024, with Nova Scotia accounting for 40% of these cases, totaling 2,350.
With an increase in tick-borne diseases like anaplasmosis, a bacterial infection transmitted by blacklegged ticks and brown dog ticks, Nova Scotia recorded 681 cases last year, up from 317 in 2023 when anaplasmosis became a notifiable disease in the province.
Enhanced funding for tick breeding
In addition to the $1.2 million, the federal government is providing $455,000 through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency to support the project.
