Nova Scotia’s Acadia University lab is set to receive a $1.2 million grant from the provincial government for ongoing research into tick-borne illnesses prevention and management. Leading the Canadian Tick Research and Innovation Centre, Nicoletta Faraone emphasized the crucial nature of these funds in establishing the lab. The funding will support the lab’s surveillance program, which focuses on identifying tick species in the province, analyzing the pathogens they carry, and assessing their response to repellents and attractants.
Tick-borne diseases, including Lyme disease and anaplasmosis, are transmitted to humans through the bites of these blood-sucking arachnids. The lab, equipped with cutting-edge technology, aims to expedite the pathogen-testing process to enhance understanding of ticks and improve preparedness in reducing tick exposure.
The financial support stems from Research Nova Scotia’s Focused Research Initiative, backed by the Department of Advanced Education. According to Research Nova Scotia CEO Stefan Leslie, addressing the escalating challenge of tick-borne diseases necessitates research that can be translated from the lab to practical applications.
Recent data from the Public Health Agency of Canada revealed over 5,800 reported cases of Lyme disease nationwide in 2024, with Nova Scotia alone accounting for 40% of these cases. Additionally, other tick-borne illnesses like anaplasmosis are on the rise, with Nova Scotia witnessing a significant increase in reported cases since the disease was listed as notifiable in 2023.
In addition to the provincial funding, the federal government is contributing $455,000 through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency for the project. This financial injection allows the lab to continue its tick breeding efforts, eliminating the need to purchase ticks from the sole known tick-breeding facility in North America. Local tick breeding will enable researchers to study the genetic composition of Canadian ticks and generate revenue by selling specimens to tick researchers nationally and internationally.
Faraone stated that the tickery at Acadia is operational, with ticks collected throughout different seasons. The breeding program aims to optimize conditions for tick colonies to thrive and multiply, contributing to improved research outcomes.
