The rise of tick-borne illnesses, particularly anaplasmosis, is a growing concern in eastern Canada, as warned by the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ). This lesser-known illness, carried by the same blacklegged tick that spreads Lyme disease, is now being observed more frequently in clinical practice. The symptoms of anaplasmosis are often very general, such as fever, tiredness, headache, or gastrointestinal issues, which can be caused by a wide variety of illnesses. This makes it crucial for physicians to consider anaplasmosis in regions with a growing prevalence of blacklegged ticks, which range in size from a poppyseed to a sesame seed. The good news is that anaplasmosis is highly treatable with doxycycline, the same antibiotic used for Lyme disease. However, if left untreated, anaplasmosis can cause serious complications, including myocarditis, brain inflammation, acute respiratory distress, and kidney failure. Therefore, doctors should ask patients about their outdoor exposure and whether or not they have used protective measures such as using insect repellent containing DEET or inspecting themselves for ticks. Unfortunately, many patients with early Lyme disease do not remember their tick bites, so the same challenge is likely with anaplasmosis. This is why Quon’s main message to physicians is to start doxycycline right away if anaplasmosis is a clinical possibility rather than waiting for a positive lab test. The prevalence of blacklegged ticks has been rising in Canada from Manitoba eastward, but especially in Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia, according to Jules Koffi, a senior epidemiologist with the Public Health Agency of Canada. This increase in tick-borne diseases, including both Lyme disease and anaplasmosis, is concerning. Among ticks collected for examination in 2024, six per cent tested positive for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the bacteria that causes anaplasmosis, up from three per cent in 2022. Despite the increase in tick-borne illnesses, they still remain relatively rare, and doctors emphasize they don’t want to discourage people from spending time outdoors in the summer. The best thing people can do is take simple precautions, including wearing insect repellant containing DEET or Icaridin, doing tick checks on themselves and their children, and removing ticks from the skin as soon as possible. Although it’s not yet clear how long it takes for a tick to transmit anaplasmosis after it latches on to your skin, pulling it off within a day means the probability of getting infected is likely very small. The Public Health Agency of Canada advises using fine-point tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and slowly pulling it straight out, without twisting. Then, wash the bite area with soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitizer. People can take a photo of the tick once it’s out and submit it to eTick.ca to have it identified, which can also help with tick monitoring efforts in Canada.
