The added value of One Health surveillance: data from questing ticks can provide an early signal for anaplasmosis outbreaks in animals and humans

Pelletier, Jérôme; Guillot, Camille; Rocheleau, Jean-Philippe; Bouchard, Catherine; Baron, Geneviève; Bédard, Christian; Dibernardo, Antonia; Lindsay, L. Robbin; Leighton, Patrick A.; Aenishaenslin, Cécile

The added value of One Health surveillance: data from questing ticks can provide an early signal for anaplasmosis outbreaks in animals and humans

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creativework.keywords - en: Ixodes scapularis; Granulocytic anaplasmosis; Canada; Anaplasma phagocytophilum; Peromycus mice; One Health
dc.contributor.author: Pelletier, Jérôme; Guillot, Camille; Rocheleau, Jean-Philippe; Bouchard, Catherine; Baron, Geneviève; Bédard, Christian; Dibernardo, Antonia; Lindsay, L. Robbin; Leighton, Patrick A.; Aenishaenslin, Cécile
dc.date.accessioned: 2024-03-06T16:11:45Z
dc.date.available: 2024-03-06T16:11:45Z
dc.date.issued: 2022-12-05
dc.description - en: Ixodes scapularis ticks and Peromyscus mouse ear biopsies collected in Bromont from 2019 to 2021 were analyzed for Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Ap) with the objective of determining whether an early environmental signal could have been detected before the outbreak. Analyses showed an increase of 5.7% in Ap prevalence in ticks (CI95: 1.5–9.9) between 2019 and 2020, i.e., one year before the outbreak. A majority of Ap-positive ticks were infected with the zoonotic strain (68.8%; CI95: 50.0–83.9) during the study period. In 2021, 2 of 59 captured Peromycus mice were positive for Ap, for a prevalence of 3.4% (CI95: 0.4–11.7). We conclude that data collected in Bromont could have provided an early signal for an anaplasmosis risk increasing in the targeted region. This is a reminder that integrated surveillance of tick-borne diseases through structured One Health programs, i.e. systematically integrating data from humans, animals and the environment, can provide useful and timely information for better preparedness and response in public health.
dc.description.abstract - en: OBJECTIVE: In 2021, a first outbreak of anaplasmosis occurred in animals and humans in southern Québec, with 64% of confirmed human cases located in Bromont municipality. Ixodes scapularis ticks and Peromyscus mouse ear biopsies collected in Bromont from 2019 to 2021 were analyzed for Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Ap) with the objective of determining whether an early environmental signal could have been detected before the outbreak. METHODS: Samples were collected for a concurrent study aiming to reduce Lyme disease risk. Between 2019 and 2021, up to 14 experimental sites were sampled for ticks and capture of small mammals took place on three sites in 2021. Samples were screened for Ap using multiplex real-time PCR, and genetic strains were identified using a single-nucleotide polymorphism assay. RESULTS: Analyses showed an increase of 5.7% in Ap prevalence in ticks (CI95: 1.5-9.9) between 2019 and 2020, i.e., one year before the outbreak. A majority of Ap-positive ticks were infected with the zoonotic strain (68.8%; CI95: 50.0-83.9) during the study period. In 2021, 2 of 59 captured Peromycus mice were positive for Ap, for a prevalence of 3.4% (CI95: 0.4-11.7). CONCLUSION: We conclude that data collected in Bromont could have provided an early signal for an anaplasmosis risk increasing in the targeted region. This is a reminder that integrated surveillance of tick-borne diseases through structured One Health programs, i.e. systematically integrating data from humans, animals and the environment, can provide useful and timely information for better preparedness and response in public health.
dc.description.abstract-fosrctranslation - en: Objectif: En 2021, suivant une éclosion d’anaplasmoses chez les animaux et les humains dans le sud du Québec, des tiques de l’espèce Ixodes scapularis et des biopsies de souris Peromyscus spp. échantillonées à Bromont, la municipalité où 64 % des cas humains confirmés était localisé, ont été testées pour Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Ap) avec pour objectif de déterminer si un signal environnemental précoce d’augmentation du risque aurait pu être détecté avant l’éclosion. Méthode: L’échantillonnage a été réalisé dans le cadre d’une étude visant à réduire le risque de maladie de Lyme. De 2019 à 2021, 14 sites expérimentaux ont été échantillonnés pour les tiques. En 2021, trois sites ont été sélectionnés pour la capture des micromammifères. Les échantillons ont été testés pour la présence d’Ap à l’aide d’un PCR multiplex en temps réelle et les lignées génétiques ont été identifiées grâce à un test de polymorphisme mononucléotidique. Résultats: Les analyses ont montré une augmentation de 5,7 % (IC95% : 1,5–9,9) de la prévalence de Ap entre 2019 et 2020, c’est-à-dire un an avant l’éclosion. Cette augmentation est associée à la présence d’une majorité d’Ap de la lignée zoonotique (68,8 %; IC95% : 50,0–83,9) sur l’ensemble de la période étudiée. En 2021, deux Peromycus spp. capturées sur 59 étaient positives pour Ap pour une prévalence de 3,4 % (IC95% : 0,4–11,7). Conclusion: Les données environnementales échantillonnées à Bromont auraient pu fournir un signal précoce de l’augmentation du risque d’anaplasmose dans la région. C’est un rappel que la surveillance intégrée des maladies transmises par les tiques inspirée de l’approche Une seule santé, intégrant systématiquement des données humaines, animales et environnementales, peut fournir des informations utiles et opportunes aux autorités de santé publique.
dc.identifier.doi: https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-022-00723-8
dc.identifier.issn: 1920-7476
dc.identifier.pubmedID: 36471231
dc.identifier.uri: https://open-science.canada.ca/handle/123456789/1997
dc.language.iso: en
dc.publisher: Canadian Public Health Association
dc.rights - en: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
dc.rights - fr: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
dc.rights.openaccesslevel - en: Gold
dc.rights.openaccesslevel - fr: Or
dc.rights.uri - en: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.rights.uri - fr: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.fr
dc.subject - en: Health
dc.subject - fr: Santé
dc.subject.en - en: Health
dc.subject.fr - fr: Santé
dc.title - en: The added value of One Health surveillance: data from questing ticks can provide an early signal for anaplasmosis outbreaks in animals and humans
dc.type - en: Article
dc.type - fr: Article
local.article.journaltitle: Canadian Journal of Public Health
local.article.journalvolume: 114
local.pagination: 317-324
local.peerreview - en: Yes
local.peerreview - fr: Oui