A laboratory at Acadia University in Nova Scotia is set to receive $1.2 million in funding from the provincial government for ongoing research into tick-borne illnesses prevention and management. Nicoletta Faraone, head of the Canadian Tick Research and Innovation Centre, emphasized the critical role of these funds in establishing and expanding the lab’s capabilities.
The allocated funds will primarily support the lab’s surveillance program, which focuses on identifying the types of ticks present in the region, the pathogens they carry, and their responses to repellents and attractants. Tick bites can transmit various diseases to humans, including Lyme disease and anaplasmosis.
Faraone highlighted the lab’s advanced equipment that will enhance the efficiency of pathogen testing. The ultimate goal is to enhance knowledge about ticks and improve preparedness for reducing the risk of tick bites.
The funding originates from Research Nova Scotia’s Focused Research Initiative, which is financially supported by the Department of Advanced Education. Stefan Leslie, CEO of Research Nova Scotia, stressed the urgency of addressing tick-borne diseases, emphasizing the need for practical research solutions beyond theoretical study.
Recent data from the Public Health Agency of Canada revealed a significant increase in cases of Lyme disease, with Nova Scotia accounting for 40% of reported cases nationally in 2024. Anaplasmosis, another tick-borne illness, has also been on the rise in the region since it was classified as a notifiable disease in 2023.
In addition to the provincial funding, the federal government is contributing $455,000 to the project through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. This financial support will enable the lab to continue its research efforts, including the breeding of ticks locally.
Previously, the Acadia lab had to procure ticks from the only known tick-breeding facility in North America, located at Oklahoma State University, at a cost of $5 per tick. Establishing a local tick-breeding program will allow researchers to study the genetic composition of Canadian ticks and generate revenue by selling specimens to researchers nationally and internationally.
Faraone noted that the tickery at Acadia University is operational, with ticks collected throughout the fall, spring, and summer, now reproducing. The lab is monitoring the environmental conditions to optimize the tick colonies’ growth effectively.
Overall, the funding injection will significantly advance tick research and contribute to mitigating the risks associated with tick-borne illnesses in Nova Scotia and beyond.