Tick-borne illness on the rise in Nova Scotia

When Wayne Uhlman of Lunenburg County visited his doctor a month ago, he felt exhausted. Cold chills made his hands shake so much that he couldn’t even hold a glass.

He was immediately sent to the emergency room, where he received intravenous fluids, a blood test and was given a 21-day prescription of antibiotics.

But it wasn’t until two weeks had passed that Uhlman learned he had tested positive for anaplasmosis, a tick-borne bacterial disease on the rise in Nova Scotia.

“I was actually really surprised over that because I know I never had a tick on me for more than a couple of hours,” Uhlman said.

Anaplasmosis is a bacterial infection spread by the bite of blacklegged ticks (deer ticks) and brown dog ticks. It can affect both humans and pets.

Uhlman is one of Nova Scotia’s 245 cases so far this year, as of July 13, according to the Department of Health and Wellness.

As tick populations surge across Canada, likely due to longer warmer seasons, anaplasmosis has become the country’s second most common tick-borne disease following Lyme disease.

When Nova Scotia began listing anaplasmosis as a notifiable disease in 2023, it logged 317 cases. Last year, that number was 681.

While Uhlman said the tick was only attached to him for a short time, that might be all it takes to become infected. A recent clinical review published by Emergency Medicine Saint John notes that ticks may transmit the bacterium that causes anaplasmosis in as little as four hours.

Flu-like symptoms common, but don’t always appear

Anaplasmosis typically causes flu-like symptoms like fever, chills and headache, which usually resolve on their own.

But in some cases, people don’t even know they’re infected as symptoms don’t always develop, according to Dr. Glenn Patriquin, a microbiologist and infectious diseases physician at Nova Scotia Health.

This prompts hospitals to test for anaplasmosis, even when doctors only order a blood test for Lyme disease.

Unlike Lyme disease, which is known for its bull’s-eye rash around the bite, Patriquin said it’s uncommon to see a rash with anaplasmosis.

Doxycycline is a commonly prescribed antibiotic to treat both anaplasmosis and Lyme, Patriquin said, and because lab results take time, doctors often start patients on treatment immediately based on symptoms and medical history to speed up recovery.

Patriquin said anaplasmosis tends to be much more acute and it’s “extremely rare” to leave any kind of long-term effects.

The disease has also been increasing among pets, but Patriquin said there’s no evidence suggesting transmissions between humans and animals.

According to Nova Scotia’s Department of Health and Wellness, in rare cases anaplasmosis can be transmitted via blood transfusions, organ transplants and from mother to baby during pregnancy.

It also notes that seniors and those with underlying health conditions face a much higher risk for serious illness after contracting anaplasmosis.

A spokesperson with the department says avoiding bites remains the best line of defence from any tick-borne illness, and people should always perform “tick checks” after spending time outside.

The key to a thorough tick check

With mild New Brunswick winters leaving the door open for tick populations to grow and move north, tick biologist Vett Lloyd says learning how to perform a thorough tick check is critical to preventing the spread of pathogens.

Uhlman said he’s made a full recovery since contracting anaplasmosis.

He said he hopes sharing his experience will raise public awareness of the disease that often carries a range of symptoms, including none at all.

“The word should be out there because most people think Lyme disease and the bull’s-eye,” he said.

“There’s no bull’s-eye with this, so if you get a tick on you, you should be concerned if you start to feel sick.”

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