While more ticks are showing up in the area now that spring is here, the province reports the black-legged tick or the deer tick (shown), which when infected can transmit Lyme disease, is still fairly uncommon in Saskatchewan. However, black-legged ticks are more present in a number of other provinces and growing, so Saskatchewan residents are advised to use precautions when travelling. (Facebook/Province of Saskatchewan)

By Angela Brown

Tick surveillance

Tick season starting but Lyme disease risk still low

Apr 18, 2019 | 5:07 PM

While there is still a low risk of contracting Lyme disease in Saskatchewan, the federal government is reporting its surveillance mapping in recent years indicates populations of black-legged ticks which can carry the disease are spreading in the Eastern and Central provinces.

Neighbouring Manitoba was identified as having a number of high-risk areas for black-legged ticks, particularly in the central and southern regions. Manitoba is reporting the tick range is also continuing to expand.

The Saskatchewan provincial government however is reporting on its website “the risk for Lyme disease is low in Saskatchewan, but not zero.”

According to the province, the most common ticks found in Saskatchewan continue to be American dog ticks, wood ticks and winter ticks.

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When infected, black legged ticks also known as deer ticks, can transmit Lyme disease. The infected insect represents only a small portion of the tick population in Saskatchewan so they are “not a major concern.”

Based on the province’s numbers, two human cases of Lyme disease were recorded in Saskatchewan in 2018. Overall, nine were identified in the past 10 years (2008-2018), most of which were linked to travel. The highest number of human cases in the past 10 years was seen in 2017 when four were recorded.

University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine parasitologist Brent Wagner told battlefordsNOW there hasn`t been a noticeable increase in black-legged tick numbers in the province, based on submissions received in the Black-Legged Tick Surveillance Program.

In about the past 10 years, teams assessed 28,899 ticks counted in the surveillance program, with only 71 identified as black-legged ticks. Among the 71, only 10 black-legged ticks tested positive for the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. Ninety-seven per cent found were American dog ticks which don’t transmit Lyme disease.

“We have not seen in this passive surveillance (program) any more black-legged ticks than in previous years,” Wagner said.

Only six black legged ticks were identified in the surveillance program last year from 2,233 ticks submitted. From these six black-legged ticks, two were found to test positive for the pathogen that transmits Lyme disease.

“It’s very rare for a person or dog to acquire a black-legged tick,” Wagner said. “Then, it’s rare again for that disease to be transmitted to a person or a pet, but it is possible.”

He mentioned any black-legged ticks received in the program are sent to the National Microbiology Laboratory in Manitoba to be identified for further pathogens. The individuals who submitted the ticks will also be informed of the results.

If Saskatchewan residents are travelling outside the area, Wagner said they should be aware there may be a greater risk of coming into contact with black-legged ticks.

Wagner recommends individuals follow the usual precautions to avoid being bitten by ticks in general when walking in wooded and grassy areas where ticks are more prevalent, such as by tucking their pant legs into their socks and using insect repellent with DEET to reduce their risk of coming in contact with ticks.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW